Yakuza creator's studio, and the game it was working on, are now officially gone
News Source
β’Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:59:36 +0000
π° What Happened
Nagoshi Studio has officially closed. The company was founded in 2021 by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of the Yakuza series, after more than 30 years at Sega. A notice in Japan's official gazette confirms the closure.
Its only game, Gang of Dragon, was shown at The Game Awards in 2025 with a short trailer starring actor Ma Dong-Seok. It never came out.
The studio's website vanished in May. Its Steam page is still online.
π The Backstory
NetEase funded the studio but pulled its money a few months after the reveal. That came as the Chinese company cut back support for outside studios across the industry. Nagoshi's team could not find another backer.
High-profile studios have closed all year. Liquid Swords, the team behind Samson, went bankrupt after staff said they were unpaid. Heart Machine, maker of Hyper Light Drifter, laid off nearly everyone after a publishing deal fell apart.
π― Why It Matters
When a famous designer with decades of hits cannot find funding, smaller teams have even less chance. It shows how fragile game jobs are right now.
Nagoshi Studio has officially closed. The company was founded in 2021 by Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of the Yakuza series, after more than 30 years at Sega. A notice in Japan's official gazette confirms the closure.
Its only game, Gang of Dragon, was shown at The Game Awards in 2025 with a short trailer starring actor Ma Dong-Seok. It never came out.
The studio's website vanished in May. Its Steam page is still online.
NetEase funded the studio but pulled its money a few months after the reveal. That came as the Chinese company cut back support for outside studios across the industry. Nagoshi's team could not find another backer.
High-profile studios have closed all year. Liquid Swords, the team behind Samson, went bankrupt after staff said they were unpaid. Heart Machine, maker of Hyper Light Drifter, laid off nearly everyone after a publishing deal fell apart.
When a famous designer with decades of hits cannot find funding, smaller teams have even less chance. It shows how fragile game jobs are right now.