Return to Full Independence
Studio Grasshopper Manufacture, led by Goichi Suda (Suda51), has announced the conclusion of its collaboration with its parent company NetEase. From now on, the developers once again hold the status of an independent team.
NetEase acquired the Japanese studio in 2021 during a wave of active overseas acquisitions. Recently, however, the Chinese media giant has been optimizing its assets, closing a number of gaming divisions and winding down funding for several major projects.
What Lies Ahead for the Studio
Despite the split, the parties have maintained warm business relations:
- Grasshopper Manufacture retains full creative freedom over its own projects.
- The team confirmed that it will continue working on new original titles as an indie developer.
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