KUALA LUMPUR: Goichi “Suda 51” Suda and his eclectic “punk is not dead” game studio Grasshopper Manufacture are a rare case of a bought-out studio dodging a big bullet.
In a Hail Mary effort to save his studio, Suda 51 took Grasshopper Manufacture out of its China-based owner NetEase Games, making it an independent studio once more.
The press release stated that the discussions were thorough and had the “generous cooperation” of its previous owner, NetEase, with the split being amicable. Suda51’s Romeo is a Dead Man is the only Grasshopper title owned by NetEase.
While this is great forward-thinking for Grasshopper as they read the tea leaves and avoided forced closure, this doesn’t put NetEase in a good light still, since it is known for buying big names and studios, and then proceeding to shutter them to balance the books.
This even happened with its in-house titles, as months after its hit game Marvel Rivals came out, NetEase laid off the entire US team developing the game.
Lady Luck is clearly kind to Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, renowned for their esoteric output and unique titles such as Killer 7 and the No More Heroes trilogy. The future is uncertain for them as they have yet to announce who is sponsoring them behind the scenes. But at least they’re still alive and kicking.
The world would be a lot more grey without outliers like them around.
Short Beats
Malaysia’s video game B2B convention Level Up KL 2026 will be taking place from Oct 14-16 at the Connexion Conference & Event Centre (CCEC) in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that Microsoft and Xbox as a whole are not up for sale.
Valve has announced that its upcoming team-versus-team multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Deadlock is still unfinished for public release, despite getting new updates and with new cosmetics and game modes in the works.
Mario Kart Tour has officially shut down. The Nintendo-made mobile game has earned the company an estimated US$270 million.
Ex-PlayStation lead Shuhei Yoshida says Sony and Nintendo should keep the current generation as long as possible, but have Xbox go next-gen.
Despite the announcement of Diablo 5, Blizzard assures that it will still update and continuously support Diablo 4 with ongoing seasonal content.
Op-Ed
We talk about the week’s special Undertale: The Determination Symphony orchestral concert in KLCC, as well as Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Games Of The Week
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an action flight simulation title, continuing the long-running Ace Combat series that put Bandai Namco on the map. Play as Rex as he leads Joker Squad, alongside the voice of his dead captain Cope, to reclaim the nation of Theve from the oppressive Sotoans in the battlefield of Strangereal. Out for PC and consoles, and is our recommended pick for this week due to its gameplay, story and dynamic soundtrack.
Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered is the re-release of the classic Chinese feudal action title Dynasty Warriors 3 and Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends. Out for PC and consoles.
End of Abyss is an atmospheric sci-fi search action title that focuses on patience and detail. Play as a young technician, Cel, as she uncovers the truth behind the facility’s derelict areas and confronts the creatures that roam them. Out for PC and consoles.
Toem 2 is a casual and cozy black-and-white platforming adventure title where you snap photos of creatures and landscapes to sate your wanderlust. Out for PC.
Witcher 3 Remastered is a modernised version of the 2015 classic computer role-playing game title, with a range of upgrades and enhancements like better resolutions and framerate, improved combat, and quality-of-life upgrades. Out for PC and consoles, and is free if you have the original game.
Nivalis Nights is a cyberpunk slice-of-life simulation title where you play as a humble ramen shop owner running their business in a relaxing yet deadly futuristic environment. Out for PC.
