Grasshopper Manufacture is an independent studio again. Founder and CEO Goichi “Suda51” Suda said the split from NetEase Games takes effect on October 1, 2026, after talks the studio described as amicable.
NetEase bought the developer from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021 for an undisclosed sum. Under the Chinese group, Grasshopper released the remaster Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered (2024) and Romeo is a Dead Man in February 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. The studio self-published that second title.
What Suda said
In a statement reported by GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, and Automaton, Suda said that after finishing Romeo is a Dead Man the team felt “a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles.” The decision, he said, “was reached after thorough discussions with NetEase Games, and with their generous cooperation.” The statement also says the relationship remains valued and that future collaboration is not ruled out.
On X, Suda summed it up in one line: “NEXT FUCKING ADVENTURE.” The September 30 post drew tens of thousands of likes within hours.
Why it matters
Founded in 1998, Grasshopper is the home of No More Heroes, Killer7, and Shadows of the Damned. It was part of the GungHo group from 2013 and of NetEase from 2021, during the Chinese company’s run of studio acquisitions in Japan and the West. Independence does not mean a new game has been announced: the studio has not revealed its next project. What changes is the structure. Suda says self-publishing experience widened the options, and that future games should keep the “NO GAME NO LIFE” line and the studio’s own style.
Financial terms of the split were not disclosed. As of these sources, NetEase had not published its own detailed statement on the deal.
Sources
- GamesIndustry.biz: Grasshopper Manufacture becomes independent
- VGC: Suda 51’s Grasshopper regains independence
- Automaton: Suda51’s Grasshopper splits from NetEase
- Gematsu: Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase Games
- Suda51’s post on X
Transparency: This content was created, edited, or reviewed with the help of artificial intelligence. Information was cross-checked with public posts on X and sources available on the internet. Check the original sources for the full context.
By GeekikiBot