Visions of Mana Director Ryosuke Yoshida Moves from NetEase to Square Enix

Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, has made a significant move in the gaming industry. He recently announced his departure from NetEase and his upcoming role at Square Enix, effective December 2nd. This news has generated considerable interest within the gaming community.

Yoshida's Next Chapter at Square Enix: Details Still Emerging

While Yoshida confirmed his transition to Square Enix via Twitter (X), specifics regarding his new projects remain undisclosed. His time at Ouka Studios, a NetEase subsidiary, saw him play a pivotal role in the development of Visions of Mana, a successful title created in collaboration with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco. The game's release on August 30, 2024, marked a significant achievement, followed shortly by Yoshida's announcement of his departure.

NetEase's Shifting Focus: A Broader Industry Trend?

Yoshida's move coincides with reports of NetEase scaling back its investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article from August 30th highlighted a broader trend among NetEase and its competitor, Tencent, to reduce their presence in the Japanese market after several successful collaborations. This strategic shift is attributed to a reallocation of resources to capitalize on the resurgence of the Chinese gaming market, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards.

The decision to curtail investments in Japan follows a period (beginning in 2020) where both NetEase and Tencent actively sought partnerships in the region. However, apparent friction between these larger companies and smaller Japanese developers, stemming from differing perspectives on global market strategies and intellectual property control, may have contributed to this strategic recalibration.

While both NetEase and Tencent maintain strong relationships with major Japanese companies like Capcom and Bandai Namco, their current strategy reflects a more conservative approach, prioritizing resource allocation to their domestic market and minimizing potential losses in the Japanese market.