NetEase shuts down Chinese-Japanese gaming spin-off Ouka Studios, developer of Visions of Mana

NetEase closes Ouka Studios amid difficulties in cross-cultural collaboration.

: NetEase Games has closed Ouka Studios, a developer of Visions of Mana, as part of a strategic shift. Ouka Studios faced challenges in Japanese-Chinese collaboration and inefficiencies in remote work. This move aligns with NetEase's goal to focus on original game development like Black Myth: Wukong. The decision does not impact their broader investment strategy in Japan and international markets.

NetEase Games recently shut down Ouka Studios, a development team behind Visions of Mana, as reported by Bloomberg. The studio, established in Guangzhou and spanning to Tokyo, faced challenges in language barriers and inefficiencies in remote working due to its mixed Japanese-Chinese structure.

Led by Tetsuya Akatsuka, former Bandai Namco developer, the studio's difficulties were exacerbated by the project director Yoshisuke Yoshida's resignation earlier this month. These issues led to questions about NetEase's strategy in the high-quality console game market, though they maintain their broader investment plan.

NetEase aims to refocus on original game projects like Black Myth: Wukong, seeking game success for multiple benefits such as increased sales and cultural value. The closure of Ouka Studios doesn't alter their overseas expansion ambitions but marks a strategic redirection towards better-optimized ventures.

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