Grasshopper Manufacture, the Japanese studio behind the No More Heroes series, is becoming independent again five years after Chinese technology and gaming company NetEase acquired the developer in 2021.
Studio founder and CEO Goichi “SUDA51” Suda described the partnership as an “amazing relationship”. He said the move back to independence reflects Grasshopper Manufacture’s ambition to create games across a broader range of styles for players around the world.
Grasshopper Manufacture chooses independence
In an announcement he announced on September 30, Suda said the decision followed the completion of the studio’s latest all-hands project and extensive discussions with NetEase Games.
“As such, Grasshopper Manufacture has chosen to move forward as an independent developer once again,” Suda said, adding that NetEase had cooperated generously throughout the process.
The two companies intend to preserve their relationship, with Suda noting that further collaboration could take place if a suitable opportunity appears. Grasshopper also says it has strengthened its self-publishing expertise, giving the studio more options for releasing future games.
After Romeo Is a Dead Man
The change comes after the release of Romeo Is a Dead Man earlier this year. The game is an arcade-style action-adventure starring an FBI investigator who travels through space and time while pursuing criminals.
Suda said the project earned strong acclaim and positive reviews. However, his announcement did not indicate whether the game had achieved commercial success.
Grasshopper says it will continue pursuing the distinctive “NO GAME NO LIFE” experience associated with the studio, while applying its own creative identity and aiming for improved quality regardless of which company publishes each title.
For more arcade and gaming news, keep up with the latest developments across the industry.
NetEase reduces its Japanese development commitments
Grasshopper Manufacture’s return to independence follows a wider retreat by NetEase after an investment drive that saw the company put millions into gaming businesses of various sizes. The strategy also helped several Japanese developers establish studios outside larger publishers.
NetEase initially backed Nagoshi Studios, founded by the creator of Yakuza, including its debut project Gang of Dragon. That funding was stopped earlier this year.
Another NetEase-backed startup, GPTRACK50, also faces an uncertain future with the company. Its upcoming action roguelike, Stupid Never Dies, is expected to be self-published later this month, making continued NetEase involvement appear unlikely.
Grasshopper’s next phase will therefore combine the creative freedom of an independent studio with the self-publishing knowledge it developed during its time with NetEase. That shift will be watched closely by anyone interested in unusual Japanese game design and the changing structure of the global games business.
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