"Visions of Mana Director Joins Square Enix from NetEase"

In a surprising move within the gaming industry, Visions of Mana director Ryosuke Yoshida has left NetEase and joined Square Enix. This shift was announced by Yoshida on his Twitter (X) account on December 2, marking a significant transition for the acclaimed game designer.

Ryosuke Yoshida Leaves NetEase

Ryosuke Yoshida, a former Capcom game designer, played a pivotal role at Ouka Studios, a subsidiary of NetEase, where he was instrumental in developing the latest installment of the Mana series, Visions of Mana. Collaborating with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco, Yoshida contributed to the successful release of the game, which featured new and upgraded graphics. Visions of Mana was launched on August 30, 2024, and shortly after, Yoshida announced his departure from Ouka Studios.

In the same announcement, Yoshida expressed his excitement about joining Square Enix in December. However, details regarding the specific projects or game titles he will be working on at Square Enix remain undisclosed.

Role in Square Enix Uncertain

While Yoshida's move to Square Enix is confirmed, the exact nature of his role and contributions at the company are still under wraps. This leaves fans and industry watchers eagerly anticipating what new projects he might spearhead with the renowned Japanese game developer.

NetEase Scaling Down Japanese Investments

Yoshida's departure from NetEase coincides with the company's strategic decision to scale back its investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg report from August 30 highlighted that both NetEase and its competitor Tencent have chosen to reduce their involvement in Japan following the release of several successful games. Ouka Studios, where Yoshida worked, is among the affected entities, with NetEase significantly reducing its workforce in Tokyo.

This move by NetEase and Tencent is part of a broader strategy to reallocate resources towards the burgeoning Chinese gaming market. The success of titles like Black Myth: Wukong, which garnered accolades such as Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, underscores the potential for growth in China.

In 2020, NetEase and Tencent ventured into Japan as China's gaming market experienced stagnation. However, tensions arose between these giants and smaller Japanese developers due to differing priorities: the former aiming for global expansion, while the latter focused on maintaining control over their IPs.

Despite scaling back, NetEase and Tencent are not completely withdrawing from Japan, maintaining strong ties with companies like Capcom and Bandai Namco. Their current strategy involves cautious steps to minimize losses and capitalize on the anticipated resurgence of the Chinese gaming industry.