Visions of Mana's director, Ryosuke Yoshida, recently made a significant career move, leaving NetEase to join Square Enix. This surprising transition, announced on his Twitter (X) account December 2nd, has generated considerable industry buzz. While details regarding his specific role at Square Enix remain undisclosed, the news follows reports of NetEase scaling back its investments in Japanese studios.
Yoshida's departure from Ouka Studios, a NetEase subsidiary, marks the end of a chapter in the development of Visions of Mana. His contributions, alongside talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco, resulted in a successful game launch on August 30, 2024, featuring upgraded graphics.
NetEase's strategic shift is reportedly in response to reduced returns on investment in Japanese studios, a trend also observed at Tencent. A Bloomberg article highlighted this trend, coinciding with NetEase's downsizing of its Tokyo operations. This reallocation of resources reflects a broader focus on the resurgent Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong's award-winning performance at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards.
The move contrasts with the companies' 2020 strategy of expanding into Japan. Differing priorities between these large entertainment companies and smaller Japanese developers – global market expansion versus IP control – seem to have contributed to the current restructuring. While NetEase and Tencent aren't fully withdrawing from the Japanese market, their reduced investment signals a more cautious approach. Their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco remain, but the focus is shifting towards maximizing returns in their domestic market.
