Ethan Crossfield 
Grasshopper Manufacture is independent again after separating from NetEase Games several months after Romeo is a Dead Man launched. Players should not expect an immediate reveal of the studio’s next project, but the move gives Suda51’s team more freedom over the kinds of games it makes and how those games reach audiences.
What changed at Grasshopper Manufacture
NetEase Games acquired Grasshopper Manufacture in 2021, bringing the studio behind No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw into its portfolio. The partnership has now ended following discussions between the two companies and what Grasshopper CEO Goichi Suda, widely known as Suda51, described as generous cooperation from NetEase.
Romeo is a Dead Man was the only game Grasshopper Manufacture released while operating under NetEase. With that project complete, the studio decided to resume operating as an independent developer. Suda said the team wants to explore a wider variety of styles while preserving the distinctive creative identity associated with Grasshopper Manufacture.
Why the split matters to players
For players, the immediate change is mainly about the studio’s future rather than an announced product. Grasshopper has not disclosed a new game, publisher, release window, or platform as part of the independence announcement. That means fans should treat any speculation about the next project as unconfirmed.
The timing also places the decision within a broader period of retrenchment for NetEase’s international development operations. The company closed Canada-based Worlds Untold in 2024, paused Jar of Sparks in January, and laid off staff at Sweden-based Liquid Swords in 2025. NetEase also dismissed the U.S. team working on Marvel Rivals after that game’s launch. Grasshopper’s announcement presents its departure as a voluntary decision reached with NetEase’s cooperation, not as a shutdown or forced closure.
What comes next for the studio
Grasshopper Manufacture says it has strengthened its self-publishing knowledge, giving it more options for future releases. Suda also indicated that the company remains open to working with NetEase again if a suitable opportunity emerges, so the split does not necessarily end every relationship between the two organizations.
There is one older indication of what may follow: around Romeo is a Dead Man’s launch, Suda said the studio planned to release another game later in the same year. That plan has not been confirmed in the independence announcement, and no details are available about the project. For now, the practical advice is to follow official Grasshopper updates and wait for verified information before making decisions about an upcoming release.
What players should know
- Grasshopper Manufacture is independent again after NetEase’s 2021 acquisition.
- Romeo is a Dead Man was the studio’s only release under NetEase.
- No next game, publisher, platform, or release date has been announced.
- Suda51 says the studio wants to pursue a broader range of game styles.
- A future collaboration with NetEase remains possible, but nothing has been confirmed.
Expert View
This is a meaningful structural change, but not yet a product announcement. Independence could let Grasshopper Manufacture take greater creative and publishing control, while also placing more responsibility on the studio to fund and distribute its games. Until the team reveals what it is making next, the most reasonable position is cautious interest rather than expectation.
