Nagoshi Studio has officially shut down, and its debut title, Gang of Dragon, appears to have been abandoned, months after publisher NetEase withdrew funding from the Yakuza-like project.
Toshihiro Nagoshi—often credited as the creator of the acclaimed Yakuza and Like A Dragon game series—launched his new studio in 2021 and revealed his next game under a very familiar name nearly a year ago. Now, the Tokyo-based developer has closed its doors, as confirmed in the Japanese official gazette, Kanpo.
The news follows months after employees were told the studio’s future was at risk due to NetEase’s funding cuts. Nagoshi Studio reportedly needed another £33.1 million (about $44.4m at the time) to bring Gang of Dragon across the finish line—a sum NetEase reportedly declined to provide.
The China-based publisher of Marvel Rivals and Where Winds Meet has been significantly scaling back on international investments in recent years. Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios was shut down shortly after launching its gorgeous action game, Worlds Untold (a studio formed by Mass Effect veteran Mac Walters) had to pause operations to find a new partner, and Halo Infinite lead Jerry Hook’s studio also ran into very similar issues last year.
Some developers have been a little luckier. Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture saved itself with a management buyout and now operates as an independent developer, for one.
Not much is known about Gang of Dragon, but its debut trailer featured the violent crime and high drama you’d expect from Nagoshi’s previous work. The game also starred Ma Dong-seok, the acclaimed actor you might recognise from films such as Train to Busan and Marvel’s Eternals.
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