Grasshopper Manufacture is walking away from NetEase ownership effective October 1, 2026, five years after the Chinese publisher bought the studio from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021. CEO Goichi "Suda51" Suda tied the move to the February 2026 release of Romeo is a Dead Man and the studio's 28th anniversary, stating the team wants "a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles." The split followed "thorough discussions" and came with NetEase's "generous cooperation," according to Suda, who also noted improved self-publishing know-how now gives the studio more options.

NetEase's broader Japan studio restructuring last year closed several operations including Nagoshi Studio and Ouka Studio, making Grasshopper's clean exit stand out against that backdrop. The studio produced two titles under NetEase—Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered in 2024 and Romeo is a Dead Man this year—while Suda positioned the move as preserving the "NO GAME NO LIFE" experience with its signature flavor. Suda capped the announcement with a characteristically blunt social media post: "NEXT FUCKING ADVENTURE."

The departure returns the 1998-founded studio to full independence ahead of its 30th anniversary, with Suda emphasizing continued fan support and openness to future collaborations including potentially with NetEase. No financial terms or operational details about the separation were disclosed in the announcement.