Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture Leaves NetEase, Returns to Independence Months After Romeo Is a Dead Man’s Launch

Following its initial acquisition by Chinese tech conglomerate NetEase Games back in 2021, legendary studio Grasshopper Manufacture—the creative powerhouse behind cult favorites like No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw—has officially regained its independence. This parting of ways comes just months after the rollout of the studio’s latest project, Romeo is a Dead Man.

In an official press release issued today, studio CEO Goichi Suda, widely recognized as Suda51, clarified that the separation was mutually agreed upon following extensive dialogues with NetEase, highlighting the corporation’s “generous cooperation.” Notably, Romeo is a Dead Man stands as the sole title produced under the NetEase partnership.

“Having successfully wrapped up this all-hands collaborative project, we took time to reflect on the future trajectory of Grasshopper Manufacture,” Suda51 shared in the announcement. “We uncovered a profound ambition to deliver video games spanning an even wider spectrum of unique aesthetics and gameplay styles to enthusiasts worldwide. Consequently, we have chosen to forge ahead once more as an independent developer.”

Suda51 emphasized the enduring positive ties between the two entities, stating, “This resolution was reached after comprehensive discussions with NetEase Games, buoyed by their gracious support. We deeply value the exceptional rapport we’ve established and look forward to potential future collaborations. Having significantly sharpened our self-publishing expertise, we now possess a diverse array of pathways forward. Regardless of our future distribution models, we remain utterly dedicated to crafting distinctive experiences that embody the signature ‘NO GAME NO LIFE’ philosophy our fans expect, all while elevating our standard of quality.”

This organizational shift arrives roughly a year and a half after reports from Game File indicated that NetEase was actively scaling back its financial footprint across international development teams. Over the past few years, this trend has manifested clearly across the industry: NetEase abruptly shuttered Canada-based Worlds Untold in 2024—just a year after its high-profile unveiling—and paused operations at Jar of Sparks in January. Furthermore, the publisher enacted widespread layoffs at Swedish studio Liquid Swords and dissolved its entire U.S.-based development team shortly after the launch of the Marvel-themed hero shooter, Marvel Rivals.

While Suda51 maintains that the departure was entirely voluntary and executed with NetEase’s amicable backing, industry observers note that the studio may have preemptively navigated shifting corporate priorities before facing potential restructuring or downsizing mandates.

Official announcements regarding Grasshopper Manufacture’s upcoming independent projects remain under wraps. However, during the launch window of Romeo is a Dead Man back in February, Suda51 hinted at ambitions to release another title before the year concludes (as reported by GameSpot), though time will tell if that timeline holds true.

In the interim, dive deeper into the studio’s latest eccentric creation by checking out Game Informer’s official review of Romeo is a Dead Man.