Grasshopper Manufacture Goes Independent From NetEase
Grasshopper Manufacture is leaving NetEase with the studio's own message confirming continued mutual cooperation, so the split is not a public break between the two companies.
Key Facts
- Grasshopper Manufacture announced it became independent from NetEase Games as of October 1, 2026.
- Grasshopper Manufacture was founded in 1998 and has more than 25 years of development experience and more than 25 titles.
- Grasshopper Manufacture released its latest title, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN, in February 2026 and marked its 28th anniversary in March.
- Grasshopper Manufacture became a GungHo Online Entertainment subsidiary in 2013 and came under NetEase through a 2021 share transfer.
- ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN held a Very Positive rating from about 2,000 Steam user reviews at the time of the announcement, per Automaton.
Reporting from 5 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, GameBusiness.jp, and 1 more.
Grasshopper Manufacture announced that it became independent from NetEase Games as of October 1, 2026. The Tokyo studio, founded in 1998 and led by representative director Goichi Suda, has more than 25 years of development experience and more than 25 titles, including killer7, The Silver Case, and the No More Heroes series. It became a subsidiary of GungHo Online Entertainment in 2013 and came under NetEase through a share transfer agreement in 2021. Grasshopper Manufacture released its latest title, ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN, in February 2026 and marked its 28th anniversary in March. The studio said the decision followed sufficient discussion with NetEase Games and its cooperation, and that it will keep a good relationship and cooperate mutually if opportunities arise. It said it has built up self-publishing know-how and will keep planning and developing titles with its own style. Procedures such as changes among officers are underway.
Grasshopper Manufacture also published a message signed by Representative Director and President Goichi Suda, who doubles as the studio's CEO and game designer.
- Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, released in July 2024 while the studio was under NetEase.
- Flower, Sun, and Rain, listed among the studio's distinctive-worldview works.
- ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN, which holds "Very Positive" status on Steam with 87% of about 2,000 reviews favorable.
- Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, previously demoed with regional jokes per country.
Under NetEase, the studio's stated goal was to create three more powerful works over the next 10 years. The new independence comes about 13 years after joining GungHo.
Suda asked players to "watch over Grasshopper Manufacture's further leaps toward its upcoming 30th anniversary and beyond." He added that the studio will deliver "game experiences unlike any other (NO GAME NO LIFE)" regardless of delivery style.
ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN drew "praise for its style packed with distinctive characters and direction," though some outlets gave it lower evaluations, and the official team acknowledged those reviews frankly in its promotion. Director Ren Yamazaki worked alongside Suda, who served as general director, screenwriter, and producer. The trailer ran at State of Play on June 5.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 須田剛一氏率いるグラスホッパー・マニファクチュアがNetEase Gamesの傘下から独立。今後も機会があれば相互に協力へ
- Automaton 須田剛一氏のグラスホッパー・マニファクチュア、NetEaseから独立へ。円満に離脱、さらなる跳躍目指す
- Denfaminicogamer 須田剛一氏が率いる「グラスホッパー・マニファクチュア」、NetEase Games傘下からの独立を発表。『ロミオ・イズ・ア・デッドマン』や『ノーモア★ヒーローズ』『シルバー事件』『killer7』などで知られる開発会社
- GameBusiness.jp 須田剛一氏率いるグラスホッパー・マニファクチュアがNetEase傘下からの独立を発表―両者の関係は今後も良好、機会があれば相互協力も
- Game Spark 須田剛一氏率いるグラスホッパー・マニファクチュアがNetEase傘下からの独立を発表―両者の関係は今後も良好、機会があれば相互協力も