Ouka Studios Faces Closure Amid Industry Layoffs and Strategic Shifts
Visions of Mana Dev Reportedly Being Shut Down by NetEase - IGN 🔗
Ouka Studios, the developer behind the recently launched game Visions of Mana, is facing closure as NetEase reportedly lays off most of its staff. Established in 2020, the studio will continue to operate with a small team until it releases its final games. This decision comes amid a shift by major Chinese companies like NetEase and Tencent away from investing in Japanese game developers. Tencent is also reevaluating its investments in the sector, influenced by the success of domestic games such as Black Myth Wukong. This trend reflects broader challenges in the gaming industry, where many companies, including Microsoft and Sony, have been laying off employees and shutting down studios.
Why is Ouka Studios shutting down?
Ouka Studios is shutting down primarily due to NetEase's strategic shift away from a Japan-centric approach in gaming investments, as well as the misalignment of goals with Japanese developers.
What game did Ouka Studios recently release?
Ouka Studios recently released Visions of Mana, which received high critical praise, scoring an 8/10 from IGN.
How are other companies in the gaming industry responding to market conditions?
Other companies like Tencent, Microsoft, and Sony have also been making adjustments by laying off staff, shutting down studios, and reevaluating investments in response to changing market conditions.