Nagoshi Studio, the developer founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, has closed after its financial backer NetEase ended support. The company had been developing Gang of Dragon, a crime drama described in the style of the Yakuza series.
The closure followed NetEase’s decision to stop funding the developer, as first reported by Polygon. NetEase had provided the financial backing for Nagoshi’s independent company after he established it as a new game-development operation.
A Yakuza veteran loses his new development home
Nagoshi built his reputation through his association with the Yakuza franchise, whose crime stories and brawling action developed a substantial audience over multiple releases. His newer studio gave him a vehicle to pursue another crime-focused game outside that established series.
Its shutdown matters because Gang of Dragon was reported to be the company’s major project. The loss of funding ends the current structure behind a game led by one of Japan’s best-known crime-game creators, rather than merely delaying a previously announced title from a larger publisher.
Gang of Dragon carried a high-profile casting plan
Gang of Dragon was described as a crime drama in the vein of Nagoshi’s earlier work. Actor Ma Dong-seok was attached to star, giving the project a recognizable performer alongside the developer’s connection to the genre.
The exact closure date for Nagoshi Studio has not been specified. Gang of Dragon’s current status remains unconfirmed, and there is no confirmed information on whether another company will fund or take over development of the game.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
