A past director from NetEase has independently financed a new studio to guarantee that "management protects creators"

Following the closure of Ouka Studios, which occurred shortly after Square Enix released Visions of Mana, Kenji Ozawa, who co-directed the game, has launched his own venture, Studio Sasanqua. Ouka Studios was formerly under NetEase ownership.

In a conversation with Automaton, Ozawa highlighted his intention for the new establishment to safeguard creators by making management more supportive. This approach aims to encourage an environment where developers feel secure and appreciated.

Ozawa plans to finance Studio Sasanqua independently and has expressed willingness to accept potential project setbacks himself. This stance opposes previous models where developers often bore the brunt of managerial shortcomings.

The studio's initial projects will be small-scale and created using Unreal Engine, with an eventual aspiration to produce unique IPs for PC and console audiences.

Meanwhile, Ryosuke Yoshida, who also co-directed Visions of Mana, departed Ouka Studios in December to align with Square Enix. More about his transition can be found here.