Today, Grasshopper Manufacture announced they’ve officially become an independent game developer, separating from its former parent company, NetEase Games, as of October 1, 2026.
The Tokyo-based studio, led by founder and CEO Goichi “Suda51” Suda, announced the change as it begins a new phase focused on creating a broader range of games while retaining the studio’s distinctive creative identity. This follows the release of Romeo Is A Dead Man in February 2026 and Grasshopper Manufacture’s 28th anniversary in March.
According to the press release, the studio described Romeo Is A Dead Man as a major all-hands project and thanked players worldwide for their support, noting that the game received strong reviews after launch. After completing the game, Grasshopper Manufacture said it began considering its next direction and decided that returning to an independent structure would give it more flexibility to pursue different game styles and deliver new experiences to players worldwide.
Grasshopper Manufacture emphasized that it made the decision after discussions with NetEase Games and with the former parent company’s cooperation. Although the companies are no longer operating under the same corporate structure, Grasshopper Manufacture said it continues to value its relationship with NetEase Games and remains open to future collaboration.
The studio also said its time under NetEase Games helped expand its understanding of self-publishing and gave it a wider range of options for bringing future projects to market. Regardless of how those games are ultimately published, Grasshopper Manufacture plans to continue developing titles built around its “NO GAME NO LIFE” philosophy, combining its recognizable creative style with further improvements in quality.
Grasshopper Manufacture was founded in 1998 and has spent more than 25 years developing console-focused games. The studio has created more than 25 titles during that time, with its catalog including the No More Heroes series, killer7, The Silver Case series and Romeo Is A Dead Man, while Suda51 has served as a writer, designer and producer across many of the company’s projects.
The company is now looking ahead to its 30th anniversary, noting that changes to its board members and other corporate procedures are currently underway as the studio completes its transition to independence. For more info on Suda51 and his upcoming games, check back to Simulation Daily for updates.
