Grasshopper Manufacture is once again operating as an independent studio. The developer has confirmed that it has parted ways with NetEase Games, the Chinese company that had owned it since 2021.
The announcement follows the completion of Romeo Is A Dead Man, the action title that launched in February (our review). According to the studio, the decision to leave emerged from conversations about its future after that project wrapped up.
"All of our employees worked on Romeo is a Dead Man, and after completing this project, we began thinking about Grasshopper Manufacture's next stage of development. In the end, it was decided that we should continue on our path as an independent studio."
Negotiations with NetEase preceded the split. The team, led by No More Heroes creator Goichi Suda, thanked its former owner and said it hopes to collaborate with the company again in the future.
"We still treasure the wonderful relationship that has developed between our companies, and we would be glad to work together again when such an opportunity arises.
Having developed our own skills in self-publishing games, we were able to look at working in the industry in a new way. We will now continue to create distinctive works with Grasshopper Manufacture's signature style."
NetEase spent several years pouring money into Japanese teams and well-known local developers, aiming to expand its lineup of international hits for PC and consoles. That approach fell short of expectations, leading to cancelled projects and shuttered studios.
Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi was among those hit hardest. He departed Sega to head a studio backed by NetEase Games, but according to media reports he lost funding in the spring and could not secure new backers to keep developing Gang of Dragon.