What Nagoshi Studio's Closure Means for Gang of Dragon and N…
For players, this means Gang of Dragon may never see the light of day. For the industry, it signals NetEase's continued retreat from funding external studios, leaving even veteran developers vulnerabl…
For players, this means Gang of Dragon may never see the light of day. For the industry, it signals NetEase's continued retreat from funding external studios, leaving even veteran developers vulnerabl…
Key points - Nagoshi Studio, founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, was dissolved on October 31. - The studio's debut game Gang of Dragon was revealed at The Game Awards 2025. - NetEase reportedly pulled funding after learning the game needed an extra 7 billion yen. - NetEase has also pulled funding from Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks. - Grasshopper Manufacture split from NetEase to go independent just over a month ago.
Timeline - Over five years ago: Toshihiro Nagoshi left Sega after over 30 years and founded Nagoshi Studio with Daisuke Sato. - The Game Awards 2025: Nagoshi Studio unveiled its debut title Gang of Dragon with a trailer starring Ma Dong-seok. - Earlier this year: Reports emerged that NetEase was pulling funding; the studio's YouTube channel and website were taken down. - October 31: Nagoshi Studio was officially dissolved, as confirmed by a notice in the Japanese government gazette Kanpo.
FAQ
Q: What happened to Nagoshi Studio? A: Nagoshi Studio was dissolved on October 31, according to a notice in the Japanese government gazette Kanpo. The studio was founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi.
Q: Is Gang of Dragon cancelled? A: With Nagoshi Studio shut down, the future of Gang of Dragon is highly uncertain. NetEase reportedly pulled funding after learning the game needed an extra 7 billion yen.
Q: Why did NetEase pull funding? A: Reports say NetEase discovered the game would need an extra 7 billion yen in funding. NetEase has been pulling back on investments over the last year or two.
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