NetEase reportedly cut almost all jobs at Ouka Studios, developer of JRPG Visions of Mana, which launched August 29.
Bloomberg has been delving into its coverage of NetEase and Tencent, as well as Japan’s increased investments in these major Chinese companies, a trend that has garnered significant attention.
Established in 2020, Ouka marked its entry into the gaming landscape by partnering with renowned developers from the esteemed studios of Capcom and Bandai Namco, securing the services of experienced veterans in the industry. Visions of Mana, published by Square. Enix has finally been revealed as a 12-month-old iteration of The Game Awards, securing a summer release date following a gameplay reveal at the Xbox Developer Direct event in January.
As the majority of Ouka’s workforce is let go, a residual team remains to oversee the launch of existing video game titles prior to the studio’s impending shutdown, according to reports. Takashi Mochizuki revealed on Twitter that NetEase had been steadily cutting staff at Ouka since spring, with at least a dozen job losses.
It may seem that closing the studio is unrelated to the game’s underperformance, leaving little time for analysis on whether the title met its intended goals.
NetEase responded to Bloomberg’s inquiry about potential closures at Ouka by stating they had “nothing to announce”, with a spokesperson explaining: “In supporting studios outside China, we adapt our approach based on our goal of delivering better gaming experiences for local and international players.” The representative also noted that the company is always making necessary adjustments to reflect market conditions.
Tencent, as highlighted in the report, reaffirmed its commitment to its Japanese business endeavors. In 2023, the studio secured a deal to develop the mobile version of Bandai Namco’s MMORPG, Blue Protocol. Just this week, it was announced that Blue Protocol will cease operations in January 2025, and its global launch on Amazon Video Games is being scrapped.
