adminGrasshopper Manufacture is becoming an independent studio again after separating from NetEase Games. The developer says the decision followed discussions about its future and its desire to create games in a wider range of styles. The move marks a new chapter for the Japanese studio, whose history includes both independent operations and ownership by larger companies.
Image credit: Grasshopper Manufacture
Grasshopper Manufacture returns to independence
In a statement, CEO Goichi “Suda51” Suda said the release of Romeo is a Dead Man earlier this year prompted the team to consider the studio’s next direction. Grasshopper Manufacture ultimately decided to continue as an independent developer, with the aim of offering different kinds of games to players.
Suda said the decision was reached after discussions with NetEase Games and with the company’s cooperation. He also noted that the two studios value the relationship they have developed and may work together again if a suitable opportunity arises. The announcement therefore describes a change in ownership structure, not a rejection of future collaboration.
What independence may mean for the studio
Grasshopper Manufacture said it has strengthened its knowledge of self-publishing. That experience gives the studio more options for how its future games could reach players, although the announcement did not specify a publishing plan for any upcoming title.
For players, the practical details to watch are future game announcements, publishing arrangements and platform information. Independence can give a developer more control over its direction, but it does not by itself confirm which games are in development or when they will be released.
Suda also reaffirmed the studio’s commitment to making distinctive games with its own creative identity and a focus on quality. The company described its guiding approach as the “NO GAME NO LIFE” experience associated with Grasshopper Manufacture.
Grasshopper Manufacture’s history and notable games
Suda founded Grasshopper Manufacture in 1998. The studio is known for the No More Heroes series, Killer7 and Shadows of the Damned. Its recent release, Romeo is a Dead Man, was the project that led the team to reflect on its next phase.
The studio became part of the GungHo Group in 2013. In 2021, NetEase acquired Grasshopper Manufacture from GungHo Online Entertainment for an undisclosed sum. Its latest decision means the developer is once again operating independently, after several years under NetEase Games.
What to watch next
Grasshopper Manufacture has not announced specific changes to its release schedule or detailed how its future games will be funded and published. Until those details are shared, players should treat the studio’s statement as confirmation of its independence rather than a promise about particular projects.
Overall, Grasshopper Manufacture’s return to independence gives the studio more flexibility in choosing how to develop and publish its games. Its next announcements will show how that change shapes the company’s creative plans and its relationship with potential collaborators.
