Yoko Taro, the mind behind Nier, shares that he’s not focused on developing a new game right now, urging others to provide updates instead: “Work is my second or maybe even third priority.”

Yoko Taro, the mastermind behind Drakengard and Nier, has revealed that he’s not focusing on game development in 2026. Instead, he’s turning his attention to personal matters at home. Known for his unique and unconventional ideas, the iconic developer hasn’t announced a new title in quite some time, citing that many of his projects often get scrapped during development.

In a recent feature that gathered insights from 171 developers about their plans for 2026, Yoko shared that his home remains a work in progress, even though he moved in back in 2024. He admits that he still hasn’t finished unpacking after more than a year in his new place.

“I moved house in 2024, but I still haven’t tidied everything away, so I would like to get that done during this year,” Yoko stated. “Work comes second to that. Well, probably third. I don’t think I’ll be invited back next year for this feature, but that’s just how it is. That’s life.” While he doesn’t specify what his second priority is, it’s clear that developing new games is not at the top of his list.

Even though he’s not prioritizing game development, Yoko is eager to hear about the upcoming projects from his fellow developers. In his segment of the feature, he directly reaches out to Fumito Ueda and Hiroshi Iuchi, expressing his curiosity about their future works.

“I want to learn more about Ico’s Mr. Ueda and Ikaruga’s Mr. Iuchi’s upcoming work,” Yoko said with great politeness. “Would it be possible for you to share your progress? I’m sorry to bother you, and I thank you for your consideration on this matter.”

It raises the question: why would he keep us in suspense when he shares our eagerness?