Overview
- Grasshopper Manufacture announced it has split from parent NetEase Games and is once again operating as an independent developer.
- The company described the separation as negotiated and cooperative, saying it values its relationship with NetEase and remains open to future collaboration.
- Grasshopper cited the success of ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN and regained self-publishing know-how as the main reasons for returning to independence.
- The announcement gave no financial details or specifics about how future games will be published, and said the studio will explore a broader range of publishing arrangements.
- NetEase acquired Grasshopper in 2021 amid a period of overseas expansion, and industry reporting notes NetEase has since scaled back international investments, which has reshaped options for several studios.