Nioh Producer Says He Would’ve Been Fired If He Wasn’t His Own Boss

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Summary

  • Nioh took 12 years to develop, but KOEI Tecmo CEO Erikawa has no regrets.
  • Erikawa jokes about firing anyone else for the long development process.
  • Nioh was a successful collaboration, combining Koei’s historical games and Tecmo’s action games.

Did you realize that the action role-playing game, Nioh, created by Team Ninja and launched in 2017, was met with generally favorable reviews? However, what might surprise you is that its development spanned an incredible 12 years.

The prolonged development of this project can be attributed to Yoichi Erikawa, also recognized as Kou Shibusawa in the gaming world, who served as a producer for Nioh.

Nioh Took 12 Years To Make But KOEI Tecmo Boss Has No Regrets About It

In a conversation with Japanese gaming site Denfaminicogamer (through Automaton), Erikawa discussed the extended period of the game’s development and admitted it was largely due to his own delays.

Erikawa humorously remarks that a project taking 12 years would lead to dismissal if it were one of his team members working on it. However, he admits that Nioh was a game he passionately and personally invested in.

Despite the extensive time it required, Erikawa expressed no regrets, stating instead, “Regardless, we produced a solid game after remaking it thrice.” Nioh came to life when Koei and Tecmo merged, leveraging the unique skills of each company to create an enjoyable experience. Notably, Koei was renowned for its historical games, while Tecmo shone in action-based titles.

To the present date, Erikawa remains responsible for conducting the quality assurance on video games produced by KOEI Tecmo. According to him, his role involves ensuring that each game offers a fresh and engaging experience, rather than just a standard one.

2017 saw the debut of Nioh, which continues to be hailed as one of Team Ninja’s most exceptional creations. At its initial release, TopMob’s review was overwhelmingly favorable, commenting that “If you adopt the right perspective, the harsh level of difficulty in NiOh will transform your feelings of frustration into fulfillment upon conquering each hurdle. If you aspire to embody a true samurai, mastering the intricate facets of Japanese warfare, and are prepared to bear the cost in blood, this is your game.

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2025-02-19 00:38