6 publishers · first seen Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:07 UTC · updated Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:40 UTC
Nagoshi Studio, founded by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of the Yakuza series, has officially closed. The studio, which was established in 2021, announced its closure in the Japan government's official gazette Kanpo. The studio's first game, Gang of Dragon, was revealed at the 2025 Game Awards but faced financial challenges when NetEase, one of its backers, withdrew funding. Despite efforts to find new investors, the studio could not secure the additional $44 million needed to complete the game. The studio's website and social media accounts have been inactive since the beginning of the year, and its future remains uncertain. The Steam page for Gang of Dragon remains active, but no release date has been announced.
NetEase has been reducing its investments in external studios, affecting several projects. Nagoshi Studio's closure follows similar decisions regarding other studios, such as Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks. The studio's fate highlights the challenges faced by independent game developers reliant on external funding.
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