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. The announcement was made via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's prominent role in the development of Visions of Mana, a collaborative effort involving Capcom and Bandai Namco, contributed significantly to the game's success following its August 30, 2024 release. His move to Square Enix, effective December, has been confirmed, but his future projects remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Retrenchment in Japan

Yoshida's departure aligns with NetEase's reported scaling back of investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article (August 30th) highlighted NetEase and Tencent's decisions to curtail losses following several successful game releases through Japanese partnerships. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, has been impacted, with NetEase significantly reducing its Tokyo workforce.

This strategic shift reflects both companies' focus on the revitalized Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards (Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year). The renewed emphasis on the domestic market necessitates a reallocation of resources.

The 2020 investment push by NetEase and Tencent into the Japanese market, a response to China's then-stagnant gaming sector, appears to have encountered friction. Differing priorities – NetEase and Tencent's global market focus versus Japanese developers' IP control – may have contributed to this realignment.

While a complete withdrawal from Japan isn't anticipated, given existing relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, NetEase and Tencent are adopting a more cautious approach to minimize losses and capitalize on the resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.