Chinese gaming publisher NetEase Games recently shut down the official website of Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios, a Guangzhou- and Tokyo-based venture. The website now displays a 404 error (page not found). In August, Bloomberg had already reported that NetEase would reduce its investment in Japanese games and shut down Ouka Studios.

Why it matters: The closure of Ouka Studios reflects potential difficulties for the Chinese gaming giant in cross-cultural collaboration and impacts on its overseas expansion plans. It also raises questions about NetEase’s future direction and its ability to compete in the high-quality console game (PC, PlayStation, and Xbox) market.

Details: Founded in 2020, NetEase’s Ouka Studios, was initially established in the Chinese city of Guangzhou before opening a branch in Japan. The studio aimed to develop high-quality console games.

• Ouka Studio adopted a mixed Japanese-Chinese team structure, but this approach encountered language barriers and inefficiencies in remote collaboration. The remote working style between the Guangzhou and Tokyo studios may have impacted project progress and efficiency to some extent.
• The studio was led by Tetsuya Akatsuka, a veteran developer formerly with Bandai Namco. However, Akatsuka recently appears to have removed all information related to Ouka Studios from his LinkedIn profile, according to Chinese media outlet IThome.
• Earlier this month, Yoshisuke Yoshida, the project director of the studio’s only game, Visions of Mana, announced his resignation and confirmed that he would be joining Square Enix, the same IThome report mentioned.
• The closure of Ouka Studios will not affect NetEase’s overall strategy of investing in Japan and overseas markets, but rather reflects a strategic adjustment, sources at the company told Chinese gaming media Jinghe. NetEase wants to develop successful original games like Black Myth: Wukong, as they can generate multiple benefits, including increased sales, commercial partnerships, cultural value, social impact, and enhanced brand recognition, the report added.

Context: Visions of Mana (聖剣伝説：マナの幻影) is an action role-playing game. It is part of the Mana series, which originated from Square Enix, featuring real-time combat, exploration, and character development, set in a fantasy world with magic and swordplay. The game combines adventure elements with a strong emphasis on story-driven gameplay.

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