[Grisham]

Veteran Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi has left Capcom for NetEase | VGC

Capcom veteran Hiroyuki Kobayashi has revealed on Twitter that he’s leaving Capcom to join NetEase.

www.videogameschronicle.com

Capcom veteran Hiroyuki Kobayashi has revealed on Twitter that he has left Capcom to join NetEase.

The producer, who spent 27 years at Capcom, began his career as a programmer on the original Resident Evil game.

He would go on to serve as a producer and a planner on the Dino Crisis franchise.

"After serving 27 years with gratitude, I have departed from Capcom on March 31st 2022, and will be officially joining NetEase Games as a producer," Kobayashi said.

"I will strive to continuously create more enjoyable entertainment experiences for everyone at this new company, in this new era."

Kobayashi hasn't shared details of his next project but asks that fans "stayed tuned" for updates on his next game.

Kobayashi is the latest Japanese veteran to join NetEase. Last year, the company – the second largest games company in China behind Tencent – acquired No More Heroes developer Grasshopper Manufacture.

Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi also joined the company, founding Nagoshi Studio. The studio is a "wholly-owned subsidiary" of NetEase Games and will focus on developing "high-end titles for worldwide release", primarily on consoles.

Hiroyuki Kobayashi Credits​

Resident Evil – Programmer
Resident Evil 2 – Programmer
Dino Crisis – Planner
Dino Crisis 2 – Producer
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica X – Associate Producer
Devil May Cry – Producer
Resident Evil Remake – Producer
Resident Evil Zero – Promotional producer
P.N. 03 – Producer
Under the Skin – Producer
Resident Evil 4 – Producer
killer7 – Producer
Devil Kings – Producer
Sengoku Basara 2 – Producer
Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes – Producer
Devil May Cry 4 – Producer
Sengoku Basara X – Producer
Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes – Producer
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes – Producer
Sengoku Basara: Chronicle Heroes
Dragon's Dogma – Producer
Resident Evil 6 – Executive producer
Gaist Crusher – Producer
Sengoku Basara 4 – Producer
Mega Man 11 – Executive producer

 

[Arkam]

Dat Chinese money got him. Though after allowing RE6, not sure they guy had the juice to carry on anywhere else.

 

[GreyHorace]

I honestly can't blame these Japanese developers signing up with this Chinese game company. There's obviously more money for them in it than in console development, which is a small market in Japan.

 

[OuterSpace]

Dat Chinese money got him. Though after allowing RE6, not sure they guy had the juice to carry on anywhere else.

Kinda interesting as the lead producer of RE6 went on to produce RE2 Remake while Kobayashi fell on his sword. Meanwhile the director and lead game designer were both disappeared.

 

[regawdless]

27 years in one company is a long ass time. Good on him. Curious about his next game.

 

[Arkam]

27 years in one company is a long ass time. Good on him. Curious about his next game.

Its a ridiculous amount these days. Its pretty rare to see anyone in the industry stay more than 15. Usually its just folks who joined a company in the early days before success and have just gotten such a good deal its not worth leaving. I think think of people I know personally, 23 years is probably the longest (and they are the extreme exception). I have yet to work 10 years for a single company.... and probably never will. Without pensions/retirement packages, there is no value in long term loyalty.