Visions of Mana Developer Ouka Studios Reportedly Being Shut Down by Owner NetEase

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness upon hearing the potential closure of Ouka Studios. The release of Visions of Mana was a much-anticipated event, promising to bring back one of my favorite series in over fifteen years.

Yesterday saw the launch of “Visions of Mana,” and it seems that the development studio behind this game, Ouka Studios, might face closure as part of NetEase’s strategy to cut back on investments in Japanese studios. This move is thought to be due to a lack of successful games being developed.

According to Bloomberg’s report, it appears that several employees at Ouka are being let go, and the studio might close down completely after finishing and distributing its current games. Similarly, Tencent, another Chinese company, seems to be hesitant about investing in Japanese studios now, preferring to back large-scale franchises instead of smaller, less risky projects.

The game titled “Visions of Mana” is the latest mainline installment in the Mana series, released after a fifteen-year gap. With it being out for just a day, it’s too soon to determine its success or failure. However, if Bloomberg’s report holds true, NetEase appears to have decided on Ouka Studio’s future, which could mean more layoffs and studio closures in the industry, adding to the existing list of such unfortunate events.

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2024-08-30 19:12