Visions of Mana Director Leaves NetEase for Square Enix

Visions of Mana Director Ryosuke Yoshida Moves from NetEase to Square Enix

Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, has left NetEase and joined Square Enix, as announced on his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. This surprising news has sparked interest in the gaming community.

Yoshida's New Role at Square Enix Remains Unclear

Details surrounding Yoshida's departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce. While he's confirmed his move to Square Enix in December, the specific projects he'll be working on haven't been revealed. Yoshida played a key role in the development of Visions of Mana, collaborating with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco to deliver a successful title with updated graphics. The game's release on August 30th, 2024, preceded his announcement.

NetEase's Shifting Focus Away from Japanese Investments

Yoshida's departure aligns with reports of NetEase, Ouka Studios' parent company, scaling back investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article from August 30th indicated that both NetEase and Tencent are reevaluating their Japanese ventures after several successful game releases. This shift has impacted Ouka Studios, with NetEase reportedly reducing its Tokyo workforce significantly.

Both companies are strategically reallocating resources to capitalize on the resurgence of the Chinese gaming market. The success of Black Myth: Wukong, which won awards including Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, highlights this renewed focus.

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

While NetEase and Tencent aren't entirely withdrawing from Japan, given their existing relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, they're adopting a more cautious approach to mitigate losses and prepare for the growth of the Chinese gaming industry.