Visions of Mana Director Leaves NetEase for Square Enix

Ryosuke Yoshida, Visions of Mana Director, Makes the Switch to Square Enix

Recent news reveals a significant shift in the gaming industry: Ryosuke Yoshida, the director of Visions of Mana and a former Capcom game designer, has left NetEase and joined Square Enix. This move was announced 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 successful title featuring updated graphics, is well-documented. Collaborating with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco, the game launched August 30, 2024, marking a key point before Yoshida's announced transition.

While his move to Square Enix is confirmed for December, the specifics of his new role and projects remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Retrenchment in Japan

Yoshida's departure aligns with reports of NetEase (Ouka Studios' parent company) scaling back its investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article (August 30th) highlighted NetEase and Tencent's decision to curtail losses following several successful collaborations with Japanese developers. Ouka Studios is directly affected, with NetEase reportedly downsizing its Tokyo workforce.

This strategic shift is partly driven by the revitalization of the Chinese gaming market, demanding a reallocation of resources. The success of Black Myth: Wukong, a recipient of awards such as Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, exemplifies this resurgence.

In 2020, both NetEase and Tencent invested heavily in the Japanese market amidst a period of stagnation in China. However, apparent friction between these large companies and smaller Japanese developers emerged, stemming from differing priorities regarding global market expansion versus intellectual property control.

Despite this strategic repositioning, NetEase and Tencent maintain their presence in Japan, leveraging existing relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, but adopting a more cautious approach to minimize losses and capitalize on the Chinese market's renewed growth.