Visions of Mana Director, Ryosuke Yoshida, Makes the Switch to Square Enix
This surprising news broke on December 2nd via Yoshida's Twitter (X) announcement: the director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer has left NetEase and joined Square Enix. 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, is well-documented. The game's release on August 30, 2024, marked a successful launch featuring updated graphics. His subsequent move to Square Enix was announced with enthusiasm, though his future projects remain undisclosed.
NetEase's Shift in Japanese Investment Strategy
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 game releases through Japanese partnerships. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, has been directly impacted, with NetEase significantly reducing its Tokyo workforce.
This strategic shift reflects both companies' focus on the revitalized Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, winner of Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards. This requires a reallocation of resources, including funding and personnel.
The year 2020 saw significant investment from NetEase and Tencent in Japan, a response to China's then-stagnant gaming market. However, tensions reportedly arose between these larger companies and smaller Japanese developers, stemming from differing priorities: global market expansion versus IP control.
While NetEase and Tencent aren't completely withdrawing from Japan, given their existing relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, their current strategy prioritizes loss reduction and preparing for the resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.
