Visions of Mana released on August 29, 2024, and its review aggregates describe a generally favorable reception. The same day, Bloomberg reported that NetEase had cut all but a handful of jobs at Ouka Studios, the Tokyo developer behind the game, and planned to close it. NetEase told Bloomberg it had “nothing to announce” about a potential closure. A December 2024 report later said the studio’s official website had been shut down. The reception figures and the closure reporting come from different sources and describe different things, so they should be read separately.
Release and reception
Square Enix released Visions of Mana on August 29, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through the Microsoft Store and Steam. Square Enix’s launch announcement describes it as the first mainline Mana installment in more than 15 years.
The reception figures come from two different platforms and measure different groups of people. The table keeps them apart.
| Measure | Platform and page | Value as displayed | Basis | What it does and does not show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critic aggregate | Metacritic, PS5 page | 75 Metascore, labeled “Generally Favorable” | 65 critic reviews | A weighted average of critic scores. It does not mean every critic praised the game. |
| User score | Metacritic, PS5 page | 8.1 | 319 user ratings | Player opinion on the same Metacritic page, separate from the critic score. |
| User reviews | Steam store page | 80% positive, labeled “Very Positive” | 1,151 English-language reviews | PC players who reviewed in English. Not a measure of PlayStation or Xbox players. |
These values were the live figures on each page when checked in 2026 and will change as more reviews arrive. “Generally favorable” is the aggregator’s category, not a claim of universal praise. Metacritic’s critic pages include reviewers who were less enthusiastic, which is why the aggregate is the more accurate way to describe the critical response than the word “high praise” alone.
#1 Best Overall
- Immerse yourself in the vibrant graphics of this beautiful world, where the powers of nature blend with the elemental aspects of mana to create a rich tapestry of life.
- Journey through enchanting locations with near-seamless transitions in a semi-open field that’s yours to discover.
- Brace yourself for fast-paced, multi-dimensional actions in battle to enrich your fighting experience.
- Use the magic of the Elementals to explore this vast world to your heart's content!
- The Visions of Mana Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a bonus sticker set (inside the case).
What was reported about Ouka Studios
Keeping the parties straight matters, because the closure story is easy to misread:
- Square Enix published Visions of Mana and issued the launch announcement.
- Ouka Studios developed the game under contract for Square Enix, according to the Bloomberg-sourced reporting.
- NetEase is identified in that reporting as Ouka’s parent. The closure plan concerns NetEase’s studio. Nothing in the reporting says Square Enix closed or planned to close Ouka.
The launch-day report
Gematsu’s account of Bloomberg’s August 29, 2024 report says NetEase cut “all but a handful of jobs” at Ouka, a Tokyo-based studio that had just shipped Visions of Mana, and planned to close it. Bloomberg attributed the information to people familiar with the matter. NetEase’s response, as relayed in that account, was that it had “nothing to announce” regarding a potential closure. It also said it was seeing progress at the Japanese studios in which it had invested.
Rank #2
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
Two details are easy to lose. The launch-day story reports a plan from unnamed sources. It is not a formal closure announcement from NetEase.
The December 2024 wind-down
A TechNode report dated December 26, 2024 said NetEase had shut down Ouka’s official website. That is evidence of wind-down. It is not a legal dissolution record, and the reporting available does not establish a precise legal closure date. No NetEase statement confirming a formal closure was found in the sources used here.
Rank #3
- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
- Keep your animals and your itors happy, with hundreds of buildings, foliage, path and enclosure decorations
- Hire the perfect employees to deal with a variety of life events
- Control everything that happens in your park, from what your animals eat to what eats your animals…
- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
Why the reviews do not explain the decision
A well-reviewed game and a studio closure plan can exist at the same time, and the reporting does not connect the two. No verified sales figure for Visions of Mana was located, so commercial performance cannot be judged from the public record. Review scores measure critical and player opinion, not revenue. The reporting on the staffing cuts gives no reason for the decision, and readers should not infer one from the Metacritic or Steam numbers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Square Enix’s description of the game
Square Enix’s press release credits the development approach to Mana Series Producer Masaru Oyamada and his team:
“Based on 30 years of legacy, Mana Series Producer Masaru Oyamada and his team incorporated everything they have learned from the last 17 Mana games to ensure that Visions of Mana is a faithful addition to the series that fans know and love, while also offering fans and newcomers a fresh experience with a new story, new characters and new gameplay mechanics.”
Where to find the game
The game is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Square Enix’s official store lists the title and a Collector’s Edition that includes a hardcover art book with art and concept drawings. The store listing does not establish current stock, so check retailer availability for any physical edition before purchasing.
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