Grasshopper Manufacture, the Japanese developer behind action classics such as No More Heroes, Shadows Of The Damned, and Lollipop Chainsaw, has confirmed it's no longer owned by NetEase Games as it returns to being an indie developer.

Having made Romeo Is a Dead Man earlier this year, the team decided it wanted to go its own way to "deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere". Talks surrounding a split with NetEase Games got under way and the decision was made for the two firms to go their separate ways, a statement revealed.

"Having improved our own self-publishing know-how, we now have a broad range of options available to us, and regardless of how our games may be published we remain committed to creating unique titles featuring the 'NO GAME NO LIFE' gaming experience expected of Grasshopper Manufacture with our own signature flavor and further enhanced quality," the statement continued.

With its 30th anniversary not too far off, Grasshopper is now calling on its fans to join it in this "leap forward" back into independence. "We sincerely hope for and deeply appreciate your ongoing support for our studio and the titles we will create in the future."

As well as the aforementioned titles, Grasshopper Manufacture also worked on Killer Is Dead, Let It Die, and assisted in the development of classics like Killer7. NetEase Games acquired the studio back in 2021, and has now let it go five years later.

Around the time that Romeo Is a Dead Man came out, Suda51 said the developer had another game in the works he was "almost 100% certain" would release in 2026. Whatever that project is hasn't even been announced yet, so I doubt that'll come to fruition now.