Goichi “Suda51” Suda has hinted at future plans for No More Heroes, saying he would like to create “something special” with Marvelous to mark the series’ 20th anniversary in 2027. The first game was released in 2007, although no specific project or announcement has been confirmed yet.
Suda did, however, offer a clear message to fans during a recent interview with Famitsu: Travis Touchdown will return. The statement leaves the nature and timing of the next No More Heroes-related project open, but suggests that the series remains part of Grasshopper Manufacture’s plans.
The comments come after Grasshopper Manufacture became independent from NetEase Games on October 1, 2026. The separation was described as amicable and followed the completion of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered and Romeo Is a Dead Man. The studio is retaining its name, staff, facilities and development assets as it resumes operating independently.
According to Suda, the five-year period with NetEase helped Grasshopper improve its tools and technical expertise, including the transition from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. The studio also received support from NetEase’s art team, while maintaining significant freedom over its creative decisions. Suda remains open to future investment, collaborations and commissioned projects.
The studio’s return to independence has also highlighted the challenges of self-publishing. Although Romeo Is a Dead Man was well received by players, Suda acknowledged that Grasshopper struggled to promote the game effectively, with some potential players unaware that it had been released. The experience gave the team a better understanding of marketing requirements, budgets and promotional opportunities, and the studio intends to give the title renewed support.
Beyond No More Heroes, Suda wants Grasshopper to revisit the darker, more serious and chaotic tone associated with earlier works such as Moonlight Syndrome, The Silver Case, Flower, Sun, and Rain and killer7. The studio is developing ideas inspired by that tradition while moving partially away from the colourful action-focused image associated with No More Heroes.
Suda is also exploring a possible return for Moonlight Syndrome, the psychological horror adventure originally released for PlayStation in 1997. He considers it an important starting point in his career and believes he may need to write the script himself to recreate its narrative identity. For now, he says he must find time to focus on game creation alongside his responsibilities as studio president. As an initial step, he would like to bring Moonlight Syndrome to Western audiences.
A return for The Silver Case has not been ruled out either. Previous remasters helped expand the series’ audience, and independent publishers have approached Grasshopper about potential collaborations. There is no official announcement at this stage, but Suda believes opportunities may exist to bring the franchise back.
The creative director also repeated his long-standing ambition to make a Gundam game, a goal he has discussed for more than two decades. Joking that the chances may be around 50%, he encouraged fans to voice their support on social media and attract Bandai Namco’s attention. He would also like to work on a game starring Marvel’s Deadpool, viewing the studio’s independence as a way to explore more collaborations with different properties.
Grasshopper Manufacture will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2028. Suda hopes the studio can make a major announcement for the occasion, although he has not revealed what it might involve. He thanked fans for their support following the independence announcement and said the team intends to turn that enthusiasm into new games and gradually develop the projects supporters have been waiting for.
Sources: Nintenderos.