NetEase Shuts Down Ouka Studios, Developer of Visions of Mana
Chinese gaming giant NetEase Games has officially shut down Ouka Studios, a joint venture based in Guangzhou and Tokyo responsible for developing the action role-playing game Visions of Mana. The closure was confirmed after the studio's official website began displaying a 404 error, following earlier reports by Bloomberg regarding NetEase's reduced investment in Japanese gaming projects. Founded in 2020, Ouka Studios aimed to produce high-quality console games but faced significant challenges, including language barriers and inefficiencies stemming from remote collaboration between its Chinese and Japanese teams. Key personnel departures preceded the shutdown, including the resignation of project director Yoshisuke Yoshida, who joined Square Enix, and the removal of Ouka-related details from leader Tetsuya Akatsuka’s professional profile. While this move marks the end of the specific venture, NetEase sources describe it as a strategic adjustment rather than a withdrawal from overseas markets. The company intends to refocus on developing successful original titles that offer broader commercial and cultural benefits, similar to the impact of Black Myth: Wukong. This event highlights the complexities of cross-cultural collaborations in the gaming industry and signals a shift in NetEase’s approach to competing in the global console market.
Wire timeline
NetEase Shuts Down Ouka Studios, Developer of Visions of Mana
Chinese gaming giant NetEase Games has officially shut down Ouka Studios, a joint venture based in Guangzhou and Tokyo responsible for developing the action role-playing game Visions of Mana. The closure was confirmed after the studio's official website began displaying a 404 error, following earlier reports by Bloomberg regarding NetEase's reduced investment in Japanese gaming projects. Founded in 2020, Ouka Studios aimed to produce high-quality console games but faced significant challenges, including language barriers and inefficiencies stemming from remote collaboration between its Chinese and Japanese teams. Key personnel departures preceded the shutdown, including the resignation of project director Yoshisuke Yoshida, who joined Square Enix, and the removal of Ouka-related details from leader Tetsuya Akatsuka’s professional profile. While this move marks the end of the specific venture, NetEase sources describe it as a strategic adjustment rather than a withdrawal from overseas markets. The company intends to refocus on developing successful original titles that offer broader commercial and cultural benefits, similar to the impact of Black Myth: Wukong. This event highlights the complexities of cross-cultural collaborations in the gaming industry and signals a shift in NetEase’s approach to competing in the global console market.
TechNode