Visions of Mana Director Leaves NetEase for Square Enix

Visions of Mana's director, Ryosuke Yoshida, makes a surprising move from NetEase to Square Enix. This article delves into the details of this recent industry shift.

Yoshida's Departure from NetEase

Yoshida, a prominent figure in the development of Visions of Mana and a former Capcom designer, announced his transition from NetEase to Square Enix via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. While his departure from Ouka Studios remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, his new role at Square Enix is equally unclear. Following the August 30th, 2024 release of Visions of Mana – a collaborative effort involving Capcom and Bandai Namco – Yoshida confirmed his move. His Twitter (X) post expressed excitement about joining Square Enix, but offered no specifics regarding future projects.

NetEase's Shifting Focus

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

Both NetEase and Tencent are strategically reallocating resources to capitalize on the resurgence of the 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 shift contrasts with the companies' 2020 investments in Japan, a response to China's then-stagnant gaming market. However, apparent friction between these large entertainment companies and smaller Japanese developers has emerged, stemming from differing priorities: global market expansion versus IP control.

While NetEase and Tencent aren't abandoning Japan entirely, given their existing relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, their current approach reflects a cautious recalibration to minimize losses and prepare for the revitalized Chinese gaming landscape.