Visions of Mana Director Leaves NetEase for Square Enix

Ryosuke Yoshida, Visions of Mana Director, Moves from NetEase to Square Enix

This surprising industry shift sees Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, transition from NetEase to Square Enix, as announced via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's significant contributions to Visions of Mana, a collaborative effort involving Capcom and Bandai Namco, resulted in a critically acclaimed title boasting updated visuals. His departure follows the game's August 30th, 2024 release.

While Yoshida confirmed his December move to Square Enix, his future projects within the company remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Retrenchment in Japan

Yoshida's move isn't entirely unexpected, given NetEase's reported scaling back of investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article (August 30th) highlighted NetEase and Tencent's decision to curtail losses after several successful collaborations with Japanese developers. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, has been impacted, with NetEase significantly downsizing its Tokyo operations.

Both NetEase and Tencent are refocusing on the revitalized Chinese gaming market, evidenced by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a recipient of prestigious awards including Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards. This strategic realignment necessitates resource reallocation.

A Shift in Strategy

In 2020, both companies invested heavily in the Japanese market amidst a period of stagnation in China. However, apparent friction between these larger companies and smaller Japanese developers has emerged. The differing priorities—global market expansion versus IP control—likely contributed to the current situation.

While NetEase and Tencent aren't abandoning the Japanese market entirely, their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco notwithstanding, a more cautious approach is being adopted to minimize losses and capitalize on the resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.