Sohei Niikawa, the creator of the beloved Disgaea JRPG series and a former CEO of Nippon Ichi Software for 13 years, has opened up about a unique role he has taken on since leaving the company.

In a recent interview with Dengeki Online, Niikawa explained that he has been working as what he calls a “shared producer” for multiple companies in the game industry and related fields. After departing from Nippon Ichi Software in 2022, Niikawa started his own company, SuperNiche, under which he produced Etrange Overlord, a musical 3D action JRPG that recently came out. On top of his game development work, he has also been writing novels under the pen name Roman Kitayama, a fact he only recently confirmed publicly, though many fans had already suspected it for some time.

Niikawa told Dengeki Online that since going independent, he has been taking on “shared producer” work for companies at an unusually low rate, one he describes as roughly what a fresh graduate would earn as a starting salary at their first job. His work goes beyond simple advice, covering consultancy on things like improving company performance and making organizational changes, while also getting hands-on with projects still in development.

When asked why he charges so little for his experience, Niikawa said he “likes being in the trenches” and wants companies to feel comfortable reaching out to him. By pricing his services at the same level as hiring an entry-level employee, he lowers the financial barrier for companies that might otherwise hesitate. He is currently engaged with at least nine companies in a consultant or external producer capacity.

Despite the heavy workload, Niikawa says he has no trouble balancing these commitments alongside his own creative projects, and that he actually finds enjoyment in working on multiple things for different parties at the same time.