Yoko Taro reveals he continues game development to prevent dementia

Video game creator Yoko Taro, known for the NieR and Drakengard series, revealed during a panel at The Tenth Mosaic event in Tokyo that he no longer possesses the emotional drive to continue developing games.

Speaking alongside Keisuke Okabe, the director of Ender Lilies, Taro stated that he considers his career to have reached its emotional conclusion with the original Drakengard, noting that he has already achieved his professional dreams. He mentioned that he is approaching a stage where he could potentially live off his savings and pension without further employment.

Despite his lack of professional ambition, Taro explained that he continues to work as a means of dementia prevention. He cited stories of dedicated professionals who developed dementia shortly after retirement, leading him to view the mental challenges and frustrations of game development as a way to maintain cognitive health.