Kenji Ozawa Launches New Game Studio: Studio Sasanqua

Kenji Ozawa, the former director of the critically acclaimed Visions of Mana, has taken a bold step in his career by establishing a new game development company named Studio Sasanqua. This significant move was first highlighted by Automaton Media. While the studio was officially founded back in January, it only came to public attention on March 3 when Ozawa shared a brief teaser trailer that captured the essence of the studio—though it remains largely enigmatic and artistic, presented entirely in Japanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bepiAuDR-gVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: STUDIO SASANQUA: new game development studio announcement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bepiAuDR-g)

The Context of Ozawa’s Departure

Ozawa’s departure from his last role at Ouka Studios came just as Visions of Mana celebrated its successful launch in December. The closure of Ouka Studios on the same day triggered significant discussions in the gaming community, largely due to the tumultuous nature of the gaming industry today. The situation was exacerbated by the ongoing layoffs and studio closures at NetEase, the parent company of Ouka Studios. Notably, even in 2025, NetEase has seen more cutbacks affecting subsidiaries like Skybox Labs, despite the latter’s contribution to the gaming sector with hits like Marvel Rivals.

Management Philosophy at Studio Sasanqua

Kenji Ozawa’s decision to launch Studio Sasanqua stems from his frustrations regarding management accountability within the industry. He emphasized the critical need for management to take responsibility for project failures, stating, “Management needs to protect creators.”His perspective reflects a growing sentiment among developers across various companies—large and small—about the alarming lack of job security and support. Notable instances, like the strike by developers at Spiders last year, highlight these ongoing challenges.

Vision for the New Studio

At Studio Sasanqua, Ozawa aims to bridge the often disparate worlds of management and development. He expresses a commitment to assume accountability for any shortcomings in the studio’s projects stemming from managerial decisions. The initial focus will be on crafting smaller-scale games using Unreal Engine, with the ambition of gradually expanding to develop larger titles for both PC and console platforms.

Looking Ahead

Currently, details surrounding the studio’s upcoming projects remain scarce, aside from their commitment to utilizing Unreal Engine as their primary development tool. Kenji Ozawa’s fresh approach aims to foster a more supportive and integrated work environment, ultimately enhancing the creative process within the gaming industry.

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