Grasshopper Manufacture officially became independent from NetEase Games at the beginning of October, prompting founder Goichi Suda, known as Suda51, to address the studio's new trajectory in recent interviews with Japanese outlets. The shift away from financial backing has necessitated a change in development scale; while the company previously promised three large titles over a decade under NetEase, including February's Romeo Is a Dead Man, Suda51 confirmed that these specific plans must now be adapted. He explained to 4Gamer that independence allows the studio to take on various jobs beyond their own titles, expressing interest in working with external intellectual properties such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Marvel's Deadpool.
The transition has presented immediate challenges, particularly regarding marketing. Suda51 noted that promoting Romeo Is a Dead Man in-house was difficult due to the evolution of the industry, where traditional advertising cycles involving TV commercials and magazine ads are no longer effective. To counter this, the studio aims to leverage its 30-year brand recognition, which has established itself overseas, to generate awareness for future projects. Looking ahead, Grasshopper is exploring platforms like Roblox for experimentation and is actively recruiting new team members.
Regarding upcoming releases, Suda51 clarified that while a new game announced during a demo event at Shibuya PARCO earlier this year did not launch as planned, he insists it will be released next year. In discussions with Famitsu, he revealed specific creative directions for the studio's future. He expressed a strong desire to revisit Moonlight Syndrome, his 1997 PlayStation debut developed while at Human Entertainment, which has never been officially released outside of Japan. Suda51 aims to channel the dark, serious, and chaotic tone of that era, contrasting with the bright and flashy action image often associated with No More Heroes.
The founder also addressed the future of the No More Heroes franchise, noting that Marvelous, the IP owner, is aware that next year marks the series' 20th anniversary. Suda51 stated his hope to create something special for the occasion, confirming that Travis Touchdown will definitely return. As Grasshopper Manufacture navigates its independence, the studio intends to balance looking back at its roots with creating new experiences that align with its original intent, even if the scale of production differs from previous commitments.
Sources: Kotaku.