Lead: Goichi “Suda51” Suda’s studio has confirmed that Grasshopper Manufacture is independent from NetEase Games as of October 1, 2026, after finishing Romeo Is A Dead Man and choosing a wider slate of self-directed projects.
What happened
In an official statement dated September 30, 2026 and effective October 1, Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO Goichi Suda) announced it has become independent of its former parent company NetEase Games. The studio said the move followed thorough discussions with NetEase and described the split as cooperative rather than adversarial.
Grasshopper framed the timing around two milestones: the release of its latest title, Romeo Is A Dead Man, in February 2026, and the company’s 28th anniversary in March. With that all-hands project complete, leadership said it wanted to “deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles” and to move forward again as an independent developer. Suda’s statement also noted that board-member change procedures were still in progress at the time of the announcement.
English coverage from Game Developer, Insider Gaming, and Shacknews matches the Games Press release: NetEase acquired Grasshopper in 2021 (after an earlier GungHo period), and the studio is now exiting that ownership while leaving the door open to future collaboration. Grasshopper’s published notable works list still centers on Suda-led titles such as the No More Heroes series, killer7, The Silver Case, and Romeo Is A Dead Man.
Why Grasshopper Manufacture independent status matters
Studio independence stories only matter when they change what games can get made. Here, Grasshopper is explicitly tying the split to creative range and self-publishing know-how after shipping a major 2026 release. That is a signal to fans of Suda51’s stranger action and adventure catalog that the next five years may not be locked to a single corporate roadmap.
It also matters for publishers hunting distinctive mid-size Japanese talent. An independent Grasshopper can shop projects more freely—or self-publish again—while NetEase can redeploy capital elsewhere. The amicable tone reduces the usual “studio in crisis” reading; the risk instead is ordinary indie scale: funding, hiring, and keeping quality high without a giant parent’s artist pool and QA bench.
What we know vs what is rumored
- Confirmed: Independence from NetEase Games effective October 1, 2026; CEO Goichi Suda authored the public statement; decision linked to post-Romeo Is A Dead Man planning and desire for wider game styles; NetEase relationship described as cooperative with possible future collaboration; board changes noted as still in progress.
- Unconfirmed: Specific next game titles, platforms, or release windows under the independent structure; whether any in-flight NetEase-funded projects transfer or wind down; exact ownership percentages / corporate restructuring details beyond the independence announcement; long-term publishing partners.
What happens next
Expect follow-up interviews around Tokyo Game Show season leftovers, new company filings as board changes complete, and—most importantly—the first project reveal stamped as a post-NetEase Grasshopper title. Until a new game is announced, treat this as a corporate reset with creative intent, not a product launch. Fans should watch Grasshopper’s official channels and Suda’s usual press circuit for the first concrete pitch.
Sources: Games Press — Announcement of Grasshopper Manufacture Becoming Independent; Game Developer — Suda 51’s Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase; Insider Gaming — Grasshopper Manufacture Parts From NetEase and Becomes Independent; Shacknews — Grasshopper Manufacture separates from parent company NetEase Games