Visions of Mana Director, Ryosuke Yoshida, Makes the Switch to Square Enix
This surprising industry move sees Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, depart NetEase for Square Enix, as announced 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 successful title boasting updated graphics and collaboration with Capcom and Bandai Namco, is well-documented. Following the game's August 30th, 2024 release, he announced his transition to Square Enix. While his new role and upcoming projects remain undisclosed, his excitement about joining Square Enix is evident.
NetEase's Shifting Focus Impacts Japanese Investments
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 decision to curtail losses after several successful collaborations with Japanese developers. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, is directly affected, with NetEase significantly reducing its Tokyo workforce.
Both NetEase and Tencent are strategically reallocating resources—financial and personnel—to capitalize on the resurgence of the Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a recipient of prestigious awards including Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards.
Their 2020 foray into the Japanese market, a response to China's stagnating gaming sector, appears to have encountered challenges. Discrepancies in approach between these large companies and smaller Japanese developers—global market expansion versus IP control—seem to have played a role.
While not abandoning their Japanese presence entirely, particularly given their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, NetEase and Tencent are adopting a more cautious strategy to mitigate losses and prepare for the revitalized Chinese market.
