Yoko Taro Says He Has Achieved All His Goals in Game Development

Yoko Taro, director of Nier: Automata, has spoken about his motivation for continuing to make games despite his desire to retire early.
In a recent interview, Taro explained that he feels he has already achieved all of his goals in the world of game development. These days, one of the reasons he continues working is to remain mentally active and potentially reduce the risk of dementia.

According to GamesRadar, the Japanese game creator discussed his current relationship with work during an event in late September, where he appeared alongside the director of Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights.

During the conversation, Taro explained that the first Drakengard game already contained the ideas and goals he originally wanted to explore through the medium. From his perspective, the projects that followed have largely been about making use of the time he has left in his career.

The creator of Nier: Automata also discussed his financial situation, explaining that he is comfortable enough that he no longer feels the need to maintain an intensive work schedule. Instead, he would prefer to distance himself from making games on a full-time basis.
Yoko Taro said:

“So if we talk about it from a purely emotional point of view, it’s all over. My work is over and I don’t want to do it anymore.”

Despite his desire to retire, Taro explained that he has another reason for continuing to work. Referring to information suggesting that early retirement may increase the risk of dementia, he sees staying professionally active as one way of keeping his mind engaged.Taro added:

“Even now, there are a lot of boring and annoying things about my work, but when these things happen, I’ll overcome them by saying that such things are helpful in preventing dementia.”

His comments suggest that his relationship with game development has changed significantly over the years. While he feels that he has already accomplished what he originally wanted to achieve creatively, continuing to work still gives him a reason to remain active.

For now, Taro continues to be involved in new projects, even if his motivation is different from what it was earlier in his career.

What do you think about Yoko Taro’s comments and his approach to continuing his work? Share your thoughts with us.