Grasshopper Manufacture is finally free after 5 years
Grasshopper Manufacture has split from NetEase Games and is an independent developer again, the studio announced Sept. 30. The Japanese developer spent five years under NetEase, which bought it from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021, Gematsu reported.
Why Grasshopper Manufacture left NetEase
In a statement, Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda, better known as Suda51, said the studio took stock of its future after finishing a major all-hands project: February’s “Romeo Is a Dead Man.” The team decided it wanted to make a broader mix of games and have more say over how they are released.
“Having finally completed this all-hands project, as we reflected on the next stage of Grasshopper Manufacture’s future, we found a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere,” Suda said.
The split was amicable, according to Suda, who said the decision came after “thorough discussions with NetEase Games, and with their generous cooperation.” He added that the studio looks forward to further collaboration with NetEase “when the opportunity arises.”
What it means for future projects
Suda said the studio has sharpened its own self-publishing skills, which leaves it with “a broad range of options available to us, and regardless of how our games may be published we remain committed to creating unique titles featuring the ‘NO GAME NO LIFE’ gaming experience expected of Grasshopper Manufacture.”
In practice, that means Grasshopper Manufacture can choose project by project whether to release a game itself or partner with an outside publisher. As an independent studio, it no longer needs a parent company’s sign-off on what it makes.
Background: Five years under NetEase
NetEase’s purchase in 2021 gave the Chinese publisher control of the cult-favorite Japanese developer behind “Killer7” and the “No More Heroes” series. GungHo had owned the studio before that.
The NetEase era produced “Romeo Is a Dead Man,” which launched in February 2026. Suda said the game “received high acclaim and great reviews.” The studio marked its 28th anniversary a month later, in March.
The move also fits a broader pullback by NetEase. In February 2025, Video Games Chronicle, citing Game File, reported that the publisher planned to divest most of its overseas teams and named Grasshopper Manufacture among the studios at risk, alongside Nagoshi Studio and Quantic Dream.
What comes next
Grasshopper Manufacture did not announce any new projects with its statement. Suda closed by asking fans to keep supporting the studio as it moves toward its 30th anniversary in 2028 and beyond. For more industry news, visit our gaming news section.
Reporting from Gematsu contributed to this story.