Visions of Mana Director Returns to Square Enix

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

This surprising news has shaken the gaming industry: Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, has left NetEase and joined Square Enix. The announcement was made via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's Role at Square Enix: Still a Mystery

Yoshida played a pivotal role in the development of Visions of Mana, collaborating with talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco to deliver a visually stunning and successful title. Following the game's release on August 30th, 2024, he revealed his move to Square Enix. While his excitement about the new opportunity is clear, his specific projects or contributions at Square Enix remain undisclosed.

NetEase's Shifting Focus: A Broader Context

Yoshida's departure isn't entirely unexpected, given NetEase's reported scaling back of investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article from 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, with NetEase significantly downsizing its Tokyo workforce.

The Resurgence of the Chinese Market

Both NetEase and Tencent are strategically repositioning themselves in anticipation of a revitalized Chinese gaming market. The success of Black Myth: Wukong, a recipient of awards such as Best Visual Design and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, underscores this market resurgence.

A Strategic Shift Away from Japan (for now)

In 2020, both companies invested heavily in the Japanese market, a move prompted by China's then-stagnant gaming industry. However, apparent friction between these large corporations and smaller Japanese developers has emerged. The differing priorities – global market expansion versus IP control – seem to have played a role in this strategic shift.

While NetEase and Tencent aren't abandoning their Japanese partnerships entirely (particularly with Capcom and Bandai Namco), their current strategy prioritizes minimizing losses and preparing for growth within the Chinese market.