Kenji Ozawa, one of the co-directors of Visions of Mana, has left his job at NetEase and started his own game studio. He was working at PinCool, a Tokyo-based team under NetEase, but now he is moving in a different direction.

Ozawa has been in the gaming industry for years. Before Visions of Mana, he worked on several Dragon Quest games, handling different roles like battle design and scenario planning. His experience covers both creative and technical aspects of game development.

His new company is called Epos. He has not shared many details about what it will focus on, but he made it clear that he wants to make unique and exciting games. Starting a new studio is a big risk, but Ozawa seems ready for the challenge.

He is not the only one making moves. Several game developers have left major companies recently to start independent studios. Big publishers like NetEase and Square Enix still dominate the industry, but smaller teams are finding ways to stand out. Ozawa’s decision to leave a stable job at NetEase shows how much he believes in his own vision.

Visions of Mana is still in development at Square Enix, and Ozawa’s departure does not seem to have slowed it down. The game is part of the long-running Mana series, which has a loyal following. Fans are eager to see how the new game turns out, even without Ozawa’s involvement.

Epos is still in its early stages, so there are no games to talk about yet. However, Ozawa has a strong background in RPGs, so it is likely that his new projects will stay in that genre. Whether he aims for classic turn-based battles or something more modern, his past work suggests he knows how to craft engaging gameplay.

NetEase has not commented on Ozawa’s departure. The company has been expanding aggressively in recent years, hiring top talent and launching new studios worldwide. Losing a key developer is never good, but NetEase still has plenty of resources and projects in the works.

Ozawa’s decision to start fresh with Epos is exciting, but it also raises questions about what he will do differently. Many small studios struggle to compete with the big names in gaming. Still, his experience gives him an edge, and he may have more creative freedom now than he did at a large company.

For now, we will have to wait and see what Ozawa has planned. Epos could become a major player in the industry, or it might take time to find its footing. Either way, his departure from NetEase is another reminder that even veteran developers are willing to take risks to follow their own ideas.