No More Heroes studio Grasshopper Manufacture acquired by NetEase Games

No More Heroes studio Grasshopper Manufacture acquired by NetEase Games
Ben Borthwick Updated on by

Posted in News

Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

Grasshopper Manufacture —the studio behind No More Heroes and Killer 7—has been acquired by Chinese firm NetEase Games.

Both companies announced the deal last night, with an equity transfer agreement having originally been signed back in May. The terms and the value of the deal have not been disclosed, however.

Grasshopper CEO and director Goichi ‘Suda 51’ Suda commented in a statement.  “We are now given a unique opportunity to rethink the game development and organization structure of Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. moving forward. While understanding our own advantages and unique position, we were presented with new possibilities in game creation.”

“NetEase Games understands the strengths of Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. and is willing to support us, and is an extremely reliable partner,” he continued. “NetEase Games will be mainly responsible for advising on our business planning activities and providing sufficient funding for game development. We will be responsible for the creativity and production of games to ensure that we are able to continue to maintain the consistent “Grasshopper Manufacture flavor” and game quality for which we are known.”

NetEase added their own comment. “NetEase is honored to be the companion of Mr. Suda and Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. on this new journey into the future. We hope to give the studio creative freedom and sufficient resource support in order to empower said studio to create even more sensational works for gamers worldwide.”

Interestingly enough, NetEase is reportedly the destination of former Yakuza and Judgment creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, though neither party have confirmed this at the time of writing. Grasshopper Manufacture’s most recent title, meanwhile, was No More Heroes III. You can check out our review of that over here.