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 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 Yoshida confirmed his December move to Square Enix, his future projects within the company remain undisclosed.
NetEase's Shifting Focus: Reduced Japanese Investment
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 collaborations with Japanese developers. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, is directly impacted, experiencing staff reductions in its Tokyo office.
This strategic shift reflects both companies' anticipation of a revitalized Chinese gaming market, necessitating resource reallocation. The success of Black Myth: Wukong, a recipient of accolades including Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, underscores this market resurgence.
In 2020, both NetEase and Tencent invested heavily in the Japanese market amidst a period of stagnation in China. However, tensions reportedly emerged between these large companies and smaller Japanese developers, stemming from differing priorities regarding global market expansion versus IP control.
While not entirely withdrawing from Japan, given their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, NetEase and Tencent are adopting a more cautious approach to minimize losses and prepare for the anticipated growth within China.
