Visions of Mana Director Leaves NetEase for Square Enix

Ryosuke Yoshida, Visions of Mana Director, Makes the Switch to Square Enix

This surprising industry move has sent ripples through the gaming community. Ryosuke Yoshida, the director of Visions of Mana and a former Capcom game designer, has left NetEase and joined Square Enix, as revealed in a December 2nd Twitter (X) announcement. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's significant contributions to the latest Mana title are undeniable. Collaborating with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco, he spearheaded the development of Visions of Mana, a game lauded for its updated graphics and successful launch on August 30, 2024. His subsequent move to Square Enix was announced with enthusiasm, although his specific role and projects remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Shifting Focus: A Broader Context

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, has been directly impacted, experiencing workforce reductions in its Tokyo office.

This strategic shift is linked to the revitalization of the Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a game that garnered significant awards, including Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards. This success necessitates a reallocation of resources, both financial and personnel, back to the Chinese market.

The year 2020 saw NetEase and Tencent heavily investing in the Japanese gaming scene, a move prompted by the stagnation of the Chinese market. However, tensions appear to have arisen between these large companies and smaller Japanese developers, stemming from differing priorities: global market expansion versus IP control.

While NetEase and Tencent aren't entirely withdrawing from Japan, given their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, they are adopting a more cautious approach to mitigate losses and prepare for the resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.