Grasshopper Manufacture is once again standing on its own as an independent studio, ending a five-year relationship with Chinese internet conglomerate NetEase. The announcement, made by CEO Goichi “SUDA51” Suda on September 30, confirms the split between the Japanese developer and the publisher that acquired the studio in 2021. Suda framed the decision as a return to independence driven by the studio’s ambition to create games across an even broader range of styles, marking another chapter in NetEase’s gradual retreat from Japanese game development.
The news arrives shortly after Grasshopper Manufacture released Romeo Is a Dead Man, an arcade action-adventure that follows an FBI investigator leaping through space and time to apprehend criminals. Suda noted that the game earned “high acclaim and great reviews,” though he stopped short of confirming whether it performed well commercially. The title served as the culmination of what he described as an “all-hands project,” prompting the studio to reflect on its direction as it looked toward the future.
A Relationship Suda Calls “Amazing”
In his announcement, Suda emphasized that the decision to part ways was not made unilaterally but emerged from what he called “thorough discussions with NetEase Games, and with their generous cooperation.” He expressed gratitude for the partnership, saying the studio continues to “cherish the amazing relationship our companies have built” while signaling openness to future collaboration.
“Having finally completed this all-hands project, as we reflected on the next stage of Grasshopper Manufacture’s future, we found a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere. As such, Grasshopper Manufacture has chosen to move forward with as an independent developer once again.”
Goichi “SUDA51” Suda, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture
Suda added that the studio has strengthened its self-publishing capabilities during its time under NetEase’s umbrella, giving it a wider array of options for bringing games to market. Regardless of how future projects are published, he insisted the studio remains devoted to its signature identity, promising titles that deliver the “NO GAME NO LIFE” experience fans expect, enhanced with “our own signature flavor and further enhanced quality.”
NetEase’s Retreat From Japanese Development
The Grasshopper Manufacture split fits into a broader pattern of NetEase scaling back its investments in the Japanese gaming industry. The conglomerate once pursued an aggressive expansion strategy, pouring millions into a variety of gaming companies large and small, and helping numerous Japanese developers break away from established publishers to launch independent studios.
That momentum has since slowed. NetEase stopped funding Nagoshi Studios earlier this year, even as the studio worked on its debut title Gang of Dragon, created by the mind behind the Yakuza series. Similarly, the publisher appears unlikely to continue supporting GPTRACK50, another startup it backed, whose action roguelike Stupid Never Dies is being self-published later this month. Grasshopper Manufacture’s departure marks the latest in a series of departures from NetEase’s once-expansive Japanese development portfolio.
The retreat has drawn attention from industry observers who watched NetEase’s rise as one of the most aggressive foreign investors in Japanese gaming. The studio’s return to independence leaves questions about how Suda’s team will fund and distribute its next projects, though Suda’s comments suggested the studio feels well-equipped to navigate the independent landscape.
Looking Ahead
As Grasshopper Manufacture steps back into the independent arena, the studio faces the challenge of sustaining its creative output without the backing of a major publisher. Suda’s remarks pointed to confidence in the studio’s abilities, citing the self-publishing expertise gained during its time with NetEase and the broad range of options now available to it.
What remains unclear is how quickly the studio will announce its next project and through which channels it will reach players. Fans of the developer, known for cult favorites like the No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw series, will be watching closely to see how Grasshopper Manufacture reinvents itself as a free-standing studio. For now, the studio has made its intentions clear: it is ready to pursue its ambitions independently, carrying forward the distinctive creative identity that has defined its work for years.
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