NieR creator Yoko Taro recently appeared on CLOVERS studio’s YouTube show Cafe Four Leaf, where he shared his thoughts on fellow developer Hideki Kamiya’s well-known approach to social media.

Kamiya, who created Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, has built a reputation for his direct responses to fans and critics online. He’s known for blocking users who break his rules—whether they’re being rude or asking questions he’s already answered. He often calls rule-breakers “insects” before hitting the block button, though he’s also willing to unblock people who apologize politely.

During the January 23 episode, Yoko Taro, who is close friends with Kamiya joked about how different Kamiya acts online compared to his reserved personality in private. But beyond the humor, Yoko Taro made a serious point about why Kamiya’s behavior actually helps the game development community.

“When you’re a game creator and a public-facing personality, you draw attention from a lot of people, including some real weirdos,” Yoko Taro said. “Some of them say things that are seriously absurd or out of line. But since they’re your customers and your audience, you can’t really clap back at full force.”

This issue is especially significant for Japanese developers, where “customer first” culture runs deep in the gaming industry. While companies like Sega and Square Enix have recently begun taking stronger action against customer harassment, individual developers still have limited options for protecting themselves from daily online attacks.

Mikami>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kamiya>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>🪲>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>💩>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>You https://t.co/KNioxE8Pru

— 神谷英樹🍀 Hideki Kamiya🍀 (@HidekiKamiya_X) January 21, 2026

This is where Kamiya’s approach becomes valuable, according to Yoko Taro. “But Kamiya does clap back. He just tells them, ‘Go away, you insect!'” Yoko Taro explained. “Just like how there are people who will tell you off in real life when provoked, I think it’s a net positive to instill the fear that there are also game creators who have that edge. That’s why I think having Kamiya-san around as a game industry peer is super reassuring.”

Kamiya agreed with this view, noting that “A lot of people assume we’ll sit there and be their punching bags, so they get stunned when you suddenly punch them back.”

Despite his tough online presence, Yoko Taro and others at CLOVER confirm that Kamiya behaves completely differently in the workplace and in his personal life.