Grasshopper Manufacture has re-emerged as an independent studio following its split with Netease Games at the start of October. Studio founder Suda51 recently discussed the company's future trajectory and the implications of its newfound independence in interviews with several Japanese outlets.
One significant shift stemming from the studio's independence and the absence of Netease's financial backing will be a change in the scale of games Grasshopper Manufacture can develop. Previously, under Netease, the studio had committed to producing three large-scale games over a decade, with "Romeo Is a Dead Man" being one such title. Suda51 explained in an interview with 4Gamer that these plans will require adaptation. "That was a plan we made based on a promise given to NetEase at the time, so that will have to change," he stated, adding, "As an independent studio it’s now possible to take on various jobs. I want to not just work on my own titles, but also on various interesting IPs." He also expressed interest in working with established franchises like "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Marvel's "Deadpool."
Suda51 acknowledged the challenges of operating independently in the current industry landscape. The studio managed the promotion and release of "Romeo Is a Dead Man" internally, a task that proved difficult given how the industry has evolved. "Raising awareness for a game is really difficult," he admitted, contrasting modern marketing with older methods reliant on TV commercials and magazine ads. To navigate this, Grasshopper Manufacture intends to leverage its established brand. "We’ve been a studio for around 30 years, and our name has even become recognizable overseas to a point, and I’ve realized that there has to be a way we can use that and make more use of our brand power."
The studio is exploring new avenues for experimentation, including platforms like Roblox, and is actively recruiting new staff. While an anticipated game release this year, following the "Romeo Is a Dead Man" demo event in Shibuya PARCO, has not materialized, Suda51 confirmed that an unknown title is slated for release next year.
Looking to the past for inspiration, Suda51 revealed in his conversation with Famitsu a desire to revisit the darker, more chaotic themes of his earlier work. He specifically mentioned "Moonlight Syndrome," a game he developed during his time at Human Entertainment, as a key influence for future projects. "I have a few ideas of what to make next, but one thing I’m thinking about is a game I made while I was still at Human, called Moonlight Syndrome," he said. "That was the game that started my career, and from there I made The Silver Case, Flower, Sun and Rain and Killer7. I really want to channel that idea once again if I can. I think No More Heroes has given many people the impression of Grasshopper as a bright and flashy action game studio, but I want to return to the side of the studio that specializes in the dark, serious, and chaotic ideas that we worked on until Killer7."
Notably, "Moonlight Syndrome," originally released in 1997, has not yet received an official overseas release. Suda51 expressed a hope to rectify this. Furthermore, a return to the "No More Heroes" series appears likely, with Suda51 stating that Marvelous, the IP holder, is aware of the series' upcoming 20th anniversary next year. "I’d love for us to do something to mark the occasion. I’m hoping to do something special, so please look forward to it. Travis Touchdown is definitely coming back!"
Overall, the newly independent Grasshopper Manufacture appears poised to embrace a dual focus on its foundational, darker themes and its more recent, action-oriented successes, aiming to offer a diverse slate of projects to its fans.