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 designer, depart NetEase and join Square Enix, as announced via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's prominent role in developing Visions of Mana, a collaborative effort involving Capcom and Bandai Namco, resulted in a critically acclaimed title boasting upgraded visuals. His departure follows the game's August 30th, 2024 release. While his move to Square Enix is confirmed for December, his future projects remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Shifting Focus: Reduced Japanese Investments

Yoshida's transition 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 decisions to curtail losses following several successful game releases through Japanese partnerships. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, has been directly impacted, with NetEase significantly downsizing its Tokyo workforce.

Both NetEase and Tencent are strategically reallocating resources—financial and personnel—to capitalize on the revitalized Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a 2024 Golden Joystick Awards winner (Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year).

A Strategic Retreat, Not a Complete Withdrawal

In 2020, both companies invested heavily in the Japanese market amidst a period of stagnation in China. However, apparent friction between these large companies and smaller Japanese developers has emerged. The larger entities prioritize global market expansion, while Japanese developers focus on retaining control over their intellectual properties (IPs).

While NetEase and Tencent aren't completely withdrawing from Japan—their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco remain—they're adopting a more conservative approach to mitigate losses and prepare for the resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.