Square Enix Reunites with Visions of Mana Director

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

This surprising industry shift sees Ryosuke Yoshida, director of Visions of Mana and former Capcom game designer, departing NetEase to join Square Enix, as announced via his Twitter (X) account on December 2nd. Details surrounding his departure from Ouka Studios remain scarce.

Yoshida's significant contributions to the latest Mana title are undeniable. Working alongside talent from Capcom and Bandai Namco, he played a key role in delivering Visions of Mana's critically acclaimed visuals and gameplay. His announcement of leaving Ouka Studios followed the game's successful launch on August 30th, 2024.

While Yoshida confirmed his December arrival at Square Enix, his future projects remain undisclosed. The mystery surrounding his new role adds to the intrigue of this move.

NetEase's Shifting Focus: A Broader Context

Yoshida's departure aligns with NetEase's reported scaling back of investments in Japanese studios. A Bloomberg article (August 30th) highlighted NetEase and Tencent's strategic retreat after several successful collaborations with Japanese developers. Ouka Studios, Yoshida's former employer, is directly impacted, with NetEase significantly reducing its Tokyo workforce.

This strategic shift reflects a broader realignment of resources towards the revitalized Chinese gaming market. The success of Black Myth: Wukong, a Chinese title that garnered accolades including "Best Visual Design" and "Ultimate Game of the Year" at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards, underscores this market resurgence.

In 2020, both NetEase and Tencent invested heavily in the Japanese market amidst a period of stagnation in China. However, apparent friction between these larger companies and smaller Japanese developers emerged. The differing priorities – global market expansion versus IP control – likely contributed to the current adjustments.

While neither NetEase nor Tencent plan a complete withdrawal from Japan, given their established relationships with Capcom and Bandai Namco, their current actions prioritize loss reduction and preparation for the strengthening Chinese market.