Visions of Mana Developer Ouka Studios Faces Closure as NetEase Scales Back

Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios is reportedly set to be shut down by NetEase. It’s the latest to join a long list of layoffs and shutdowns over the last two years.

The move is part of NetEase and Tencent’s overall scaling back of investment in Japanese studios, as both companies are starting to rethink their strategies in the country.

According to a Bloomberg report, NetEase has “cut all but a handful of jobs” at Ouka, which is based in Shibuya, Tokyo. Apparently, the company plans to close the studio entirely, with the remaining staff tasked with overseeing the release of its final games before then. Bloomberg’s reporter, Takashi Mochizuki, then added later on social media that NetEase has been cutting staff “since this Spring at least.”

In a response to Bloomberg, a NetEase spokesperson said there was “nothing to announce” about Ouka’s closure, saying, “In supporting studios outside China, we craft our strategy based on our goal of providing better gaming experiences to local and global players.

Alongside NetEase, Tencent has reportedly pulled out of funding commitments for multiple new games. There appears to be a mismatch in expectations, with Tencent aiming to take big franchises global while Japanese companies want to maintain tight control over those franchises. This is all happening in an industry already shaken by mass layoffs post-COVID.

Word of Ouka being shut down comes just days after the release of its new game, Visions of Mana , made in collaboration with Square Enix. The studio was founded in 2020 with the focus of developing “next-generation console games.” The studio hired staff former staff from Capcom and Bandai Namco.

Visions of Mana has received mostly positive reviews. It is rated 76 on Metacritic, and many reviews call it an RPG “comfort food.” Our own review hits close to that with a 7/10, saying, “ Visions of Mana marks a solid return to the series, featuring an emotionally engaging storyline and striking visuals. However, the side quests and voice acting may turn some players off.”

Visions of Mana is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.