Cult-favorite developer Grasshopper Manufacture, founded by punk game creator Suda51, announced today that it has split from its partnership with NetEase games to become an independent studio. In a post across social media, industry pundit Wario64 shared a letter written by Suda which states, “Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. hereby announces that as of October 1, 2026, the company has become independent of its former parent company NetEase Games.”

After thanking fans for supporting Romeo is a Dead Man, Suda writes, “Our whole studio would like to extend our sincerest thanks to everyone who enjoyed the game, and to everyone who worked tirelessly toward making its release possible. Having finally completed this all-hands project, as we reflected on the next stage of Grasshopper Manufacture’s future, we found a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere. As such, Grasshopper Manufacture has chosen to move forward as an independent developer once again.”

When Did NetEase Acquire Grasshopper?

Back in 2021 as part of its acquisitions of Japanese studios, NetEase purchased Grasshopper in an attempt to expand its reach into the Asian gaming market. Under NetEase, Grasshopper released one project, which was 2024’s Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. No More Heroes III released in 2021 before the acquisition and its subsequent ports to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S were handled internally. This past year, the company released Romeo is a Dead Man, which was self-published.

Why Did NetEase Let Go of Grasshopper?

In the past couple of years, NetEase has started to pull back on its acquisitions and has closed a number of studios it started up. The highest profile of those was Nagoshi studio, founded by Yakuza/Like a Dragon series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi. While there has been no official announcement of that closure, the company deleted its YouTube page earlier this year and has scrubbed all evidence of its upcoming game, Gang of Dragon. Other NetEase studios such as Worlds Untold, founded by Mass Effect writer Mac Walters, and Jar of Sparks, founded by ex-Xbox and ex-Bungie employee Jerry Hook, have been given the axe despite NetEase creating them. Grasshopper was likely freed from its grasp because the company has enough money to run on its own, not to mention closing such a fan-favourite studio would do more harm to NetEase’s image than is worth it.

What Does This Change Mean?

After hearing about studios closing left and right, it’s rare to see a company announce its independence without any major layoffs or closures. For Grasshopper, since the company has always been relatively small, this change likely doesn’t change anything. Even in past publishing deals it had with EA, Capcom, Sega, and Marvelous, the company has retained its identity while creating unique games. There is always some kind of interference, but Grasshopper has craved out a niche of creating avant-garde/punk rock games in an industry that typically punishes experimentation. Without NetEase breathing down its neck, Grasshopper should be able to continue doing just that.

Last Word on Grasshopper Manufacture Going Independent

I’m mostly thrilled that there is a games’ industry story from 2026 that isn’t gloom and doom, but I also happen to be a fan of Grasshopper’s work. This change won’t be easy, but with the clout Grasshopper has gained over the years, it should be able to weather the initial storm. This is ultimately a good change for Suda51 and his team.