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NieR: Automata's Yoko Taro Quits Virtual YouTuber Gig After 1st Stream
posted on by Kim Morrissy
The second NieR:Automata anniversary livestream announced that game director Yokō Tarō would appear on Square Enix's virtual idol group Gems Company's Virtual Cast VRadio show as a Virtual YouTuber. However, after his first appearance on the "VRadio〜JAM GEM JUMP!!!〜 #10" program on March 12, Yokō Tarō told Japanese games website DenFamiNicoGamer that he will be quitting his Virtual YouTuber gig.
Yokō Tarō cited the hassle involved in making a virtual avatar appear live onscreen as one of his reasons for quitting. Square Enix producer Yosuke Saito, who is also a producer for Gem Company, apparently told Yokō Tarō that it was possible to do Virtual YouTubing with a smartphone. At the time, Yokō Tarō responded, "That sounds neat!" but told DenFamiNicoGamer: "Before I knew it, I was sucked into the system."
Yokō Tarō described his appearance as his "debut and graduation live show rolled into one." He said that his only talent is singing, but he hurt his throat during the stream and decided then and there to quit.
It must be noted that Yokō Tarō's attempt at singing during the stream was just him yelling at the top of his lungs.
Yokō Tarō appeared on the stream with two virtual idols: Yukino Akaba and Mikoto Nagatani. Both girls said that they would love to perform with Yokō Tarō again, but he said that because he's retired now, they'll have to find someone else. According to him, all they need to do is find some guy with a filthy mouth and no one would be able to tell the difference.
The interviewer suggested that Square Enix should make a game with the Gems Company idols, and that Yokō Tarō should appear in it. Yokō Tarō said: "That would be the end of Square Enix. It's a fine idea to make a romance game out of Gems Company, but the moment Yokō Tarō appears in it, the person who thought that was a good idea should get fired, in my opinion."
Nevertheless, Yokō Tarō said that he enjoyed the experience and that even though his retirement came so soon, he swears that he won't forget anyone.
Source: VRadio〜JAM GEM JUMP!!!〜 #10 livestream, DenFamiNicoGamer (Kodai Kurimoto) via Siliconera
