Physix FrontierPhysix Frontier · News Briefing Card (IT Home · Sep 30, 2026)
Grasshopper Manufacture to Leave NetEase, Go Indie on Oct 1
KEY FACTS
- Grasshopper Manufacture has announced it will split from NetEase Games effective October 1, 2026.
- After the split, Grasshopper Manufacture will return to being an independent developer.
- NetEase Games announced its acquisition of Grasshopper Manufacture in 2021.
- NetEase had provided Grasshopper with development funding and support from thousands of developers.
- Founder Goichi Suda said he had fully communicated with NetEase before the split and expressed his thanks.
PHYSIX OBSERVATION
When NetEase acquired Grasshopper back then, what it was buying was Suda51's auteur label, but niche works of that style can hardly sustain a major publisher's return expectations. Now the studio believes it has the capability to publish on its own and has chosen to go solo, showing that mid-sized creative teams would rather hold publishing rights and IP control. It's good news for players, and a reminder for big publishers hoping to fill out their content lineups through acquisitions.
Source: IT Home report