Grasshopper Manufacture Charts New Path as Independent Studio, Hints at No More Heroes Return
Founder Suda51 outlines how independence from NetEase reshapes Grasshopper’s projects, including a possible No More Heroes anniversary and a revival of the 1997 title Moonlight Syndrome.
Grasshopper Manufacture announced its independence from NetEase Games at the start of October, prompting founder Suda51 to discuss how the studio will move forward without the former partner’s financial support.
Changes to Development Scale
Suda51 told 4Gamer that under NetEase the studio had pledged to deliver three large games within ten years, with Romeo Is a Dead Man (released in February) counted among them. He explained that “that was a plan we made based on a promise given to NetEase at the time, so that will have to change.” As an independent studio, Grasshopper can now “take on various jobs” and work on “interesting IPs” beyond its own titles.
New IP Aspirations
In a separate interview with Famitsu, Suda51 named two franchises he would like to collaborate with: Mobile Suit Gundam and Marvel’s Deadpool. He emphasized a desire to diversify the studio’s portfolio while still creating original works.
Promotion Challenges and Brand Power
The shift to independence also forced Grasshopper to handle promotion for Romeo Is a Dead Man internally. Suda51 noted that “raising awareness for a game is really difficult” because modern marketing no longer relies on TV spots, magazine ads, or large online campaigns. To mitigate this, he said the studio will lean on its 30‑year legacy, noting that “our name has even become recognizable overseas to a point” and that Grasshopper intends to “make more use of our brand power.”
Exploring New Platforms and Hiring
Looking ahead, the studio is evaluating platforms such as Roblox to experiment with ideas. It is also actively recruiting new team members. Earlier in the year, Grasshopper held a demo event at Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo to celebrate Romeo Is a Dead Man and announced another new game slated for release “next year,” though details remain under wraps.
Reviving Past Works and No More Heroes Anniversary
During the Famitsu conversation, Suda51 revealed interest in revisiting Moonlight Syndrome, a 1997 PlayStation title he created while at Human Entertainment. He described it as the game that launched his career and said he wants to “channel that idea once again.” The title has never been officially released outside Japan, and Suda51 hopes to bring it to an international audience.
He also addressed the upcoming 20th anniversary of No More Heroes. Speaking about Marvelous, the IP holder, he said the company is very aware [that next year is the 20th anniversary of No More Heroes], so I’d love for us to do something to mark the occasion. He added, “Travis Touchdown is definitely coming back!” indicating a possible new entry or special project for the series.
Balancing Past and Future
Overall, Suda51’s comments suggest that the now‑independent Grasshopper Manufacture aims to honor its darker, “serious and chaotic” roots—exemplified by titles like Killer7—while also adapting to a smaller scale of production and exploring new collaborations and platforms.
Fans can expect the studio to continue self‑publishing, as it did with Romeo Is a Dead Man, and to keep leveraging its long‑standing brand as it navigates the post‑NetEase era.
