The Japanese government’s Official Gazette has reported that Toshihiro Nagoshi’s Nagoshi Studio, previously funded by NetEase Games, has officially closed. Nagoshi Studio was officially closed on October 31 in Japan, with Official Gazette reporting the studio’s dissolution on November 2.
The shutdown of Nagoshi Studio felt like an inevitability following reports this past March of NetEase Games ceasing funding for development of Gang of Dragon and the studio. It was widely reported that Nagoshi Studio was seeking external funding to continue the production and the studio’s operations, but with today’s news, it’s clear that all of those plans fell through.
Nagoshi Studio was founded in November 2021 as a subsidiary to NetEase Games, led by former SEGA COO and Yakuza series director Toshihiro Nagoshi. Former SEGA and Yakuza staff also joined the studio, including producers Daisuke Sato and Kazuki Hosokawa.
Originally revealed at The Game Awards 2025, Gang of Dragon was Nagoshi Studio’s first in-house game. South Korean and American actor Ma Dong-seok was slated to star as protagonist Shin Ji-seong.
The Steam page for Gang of Dragon describes the game:
An action-adventure set in Kabukicho, the iconic nightlife district of Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Shin Ji-seong — portrayed by renowned Asian actor Ma Dong-seok — is a high-ranking member of a Korean crime syndicate based in Kabukicho. As he explores the streets of Shinjuku, Shin becomes entangled in underworld conflicts and forges intense, human connections that push him to confront his own sense of purpose.
Combat unfolds from a third-person perspective, centered on Shin’s overwhelming physical power. Engage enemies through brutal hand-to-hand strikes, precise blade attacks, gunplay, and high-impact vehicle action across the city.
Forge your own path through a story where violence and human bonds intertwine.
