With all the other developers facing issues under NetEase Games, from Nagoshi Studio to Quantic Dream (allegedly), it’s nice to see Grasshopper Manufacture go in a different direction. CEO Goichi Suda has confirmed that the studio has gone independent once more after splitting from its parent company.
Following the completion of Romeo is a Dead Man, they “reflected on the next stage of Grasshopper Manufacture’s future” and “found a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere. As such, Grasshopper Manufacture has chosen to move forward as an independent developer once again.”
What’s more, the split from NetEase appears to have been amicable, as Suda praised their “generous cooperation.” “We continue to cherish the amazing relationship our companies have built, and look forward to further collaboration when the opportunity arises.”
As for the future, Grasshopper doesn’t have announcements (not even that second unnamed title that’s supposedly launching this year). Acknowledging its “self-publishing know-how,” Suda noted there are a “broad range of options.” That said, he wants to continue making games with “our own signature flavor and further enhanced quality.”
“We hope you will continue to watch over Grasshopper Manufacture as we make this next leap forward and move on to our upcoming 30th anniversary and beyond. We sincerely hope for and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for our studio and the titles we will create in the future.”
The company’s 30th anniversary is slated for March 30th, 2028. Whether that’s when it will have new projects to announce remains to be seen. For all we know, Suda considers it the next big milestone for the company after being around for so long.
As for Grasshopper’s latest title, Romeo is a Dead Man, it’s available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. You can check out our review here. While it definitely features the same sense of style and over-the-top presentation the studio is known for, performance issues on PS5, combat hiccups, and more ultimately dragged the experience down.
In the months after its release, a new update adds Photo Mode, new customization options and more. Head here for all the details.
