8-4 is Working Under NieR: Automata Creator’s Approval with Localization

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We previously reported on 8-4 handling localization duties for NieR: Automata, and what that could mean for the game’s English release. Now, we’ve gotten some clarification for NieR and Drakengard creator Taro Yoko’s original statements regarding their approach to the game’s localization.

“To clarify director YOKO TARO’s statement regarding the localization, the team at 8-4 is hard at work with the creators’ blessing and approval to make the script meaningful and accessible to players outside of Japan,” said a Square Enix representative to Niche Gamer.

“Concepts and ideas that would suffer in direct translation are being reworked to respectfully deliver NieR: Automata’s content in the most enjoyable way possible.”

Part of the reason behind the confusion in the original interview was whether Yoko was talking about the original NieR and its localization, or its sequel.

This is welcoming news when compared to Yoko originally saying 8-4 “changed a lot from the original script” to ensure the game would “fit the different regions.” While we didn’t know what this meant exactly at the time, we now know 8-4 is working directly under Yoko’s approval.

It’s worth reiterating that 8-4 was the studio that handled localizing the original NieR, as well as Drakengard 3. Without spoiling too much, Drakengard 3 is a prequel to the original two games, while the original NieR is a sequel of sorts to the original Drakengard.

“That’s because there’s a lot of concepts or ideas that only really the Japanese audience would understand,” Yoko said in the original interview. “And so the localisation team really went in and made it so that the English native speakers will really enjoy the game.”

NieR: Automata is launching sometime next year, for PlayStation 4.

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