After the abrupt closure of his previous Ouka Studios by NetEase, a prominent co-director from Visions of Mana has announced the formation of a new game development studio with a radical approach to leadership. The new company aims to protect creators by merging management roles directly with development positions—ensuring those making business decisions also have skin in the game.
The announcement comes at a particularly meaningful time. NetEase shuttered the original studio during the launch week of Visions of Mana, despite the game receiving positive critical reception. According to reports, the closure was part of broader “divestments with overseas subsidiaries,” rather than a reflection of the game’s quality or performance.
“The traditional divide between management and developers has led to countless project failures throughout the industry,” the co-director explained in his announcement. “When things go wrong, it’s almost always the creative team that suffers the consequences of decisions they didn’t make.”
The new studio’s core philosophy centers on accountability. By having managers who are also active developers, the hope is that business decisions will better align with creative realities. This approach aims to prevent scenarios where executives without hands-on development experience make promises or deadlines that teams can’t reasonably meet.
Industry veterans have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement. While many praise the sentiment, others point to the practical challenges of running an independent studio. Financial stability remains a primary concern, with several commenters noting that noble intentions don’t guarantee funding or commercial success.
“When you make a company, keeping people and expanding isn’t normally a problem if things go well,” noted one industry observer. “The real test comes when the company doesn’t perform as expected.”
The history of game development is filled with studios that collapsed despite talented teams and creative vision. Challenges like scope creep, unrealistic deadlines, and unstable funding have sunk many promising projects. Smaller independent studios often face additional hurdles in securing sustainable financing without sacrificing creative control.
For this new venture to succeed where others have faltered, it will need to balance artistic integrity with commercial viability. The co-director acknowledged this challenge but remained confident that a more integrated approach to leadership could yield both better games and a healthier work environment.
