Nagoshi Studio

Nagoshi Studio has officially shut down, GANG OF DRAGON likely to never release

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Nagoshi Studio, the Tokyo-based developer founded by Yakuza and Monkey Ball series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, has officially been dissolved. According to a notice published in Japan’s government gazette Kanpo on November 2, the studio was dissolved through a shareholders’ resolution on October 31. Founded in November 2021 under NetEase Games, Nagoshi Studio was established by Nagoshi following his departure from SEGA. The studio announced its debut project, GANG OF DRAGON, in December 2025. The Kabukicho-set action adventure stars Korean actor Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) and was announced for PC.

However, the studio’s future came into question earlier this year. In March 2026, Bloomberg reported that NetEase planned to withdraw its funding in May, potentially giving Nagoshi the option to take the studio independent if it could secure the necessary financing. In April, we reported that the studio quietly deleted game trailers from their YouTube channel. With the studio now officially dissolved, the future of GANG OF DRAGON remains uncertain. It is likely the game will never see the light of day.

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SEGA News Bits Live: What the HECK is SEGA Universe?

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On this SEGA News Bits Live we pay a visit to the computer killing SEGA Universe website and see what the new initiative is all about! Also, new Ecco, Stranger Than Heaven sneak peeks and Nagoshi needs a Kickstarter!

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The Man Who Erased His Game: Nagoshi Studio deletes their YouTube Channel and trailers of Gang of Dragon

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You might have heard of Gang of Dragon, the debut game from former SEGA CCO and Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi at his new studio aptly titled Nagoshi Studio. After making a splash at The Game Awards last year, there have been rumors and speculation that the studio is in serious trouble. In March 2026 it was announced that NetEase would cut all funding to Nagoshi Studio, a wider effort on the part of NetEase that has impacted funding to other subsidiary studios.

Now, the Nagoshi Studio YouTube channel has been deleted and the Gang of Dragon trailers are no longer available (outside of third party uploads, of course). While the studio was in trouble before, with it being reported they needed an additional $44 million to complete development, this latest news might spell the end for the studio and their game.

The website for the studio is still up, but between no more funding and deleting their YouTube channel it might not be for long. We’ll share more as we hear it.

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NetEase to Close Nagoshi Studio Amid Major Cuts

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Nearly three years have passed since Toshihiro Nagoshi departed SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to establish his own venture, Nagoshi Studio, under NetEase. Unfortunately, reports indicate the studio may not see its debut project come to fruition. According to Bloomberg, Nagoshi Studio is among the casualties of NetEase’s recent restructuring, facing closure.

While the studio will be granted time to finalize its current projects, but will not receive further time, funding or marketing support. This severely limits the game’s prospects for widespread release and promotion.

Speculation now turns to Toshihiro Nagoshi’s future. His departure from SEGA was reportedly fueled by dissatisfaction with a demotion and disagreements over company expenditures. Regardless, Nagoshi’s reputation remains strong within the Japanese gaming industry. It would not be surprising if other publishers are already expressing interest in his services. Who would that be?

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Toshihiro Nagoshi’s New Studio To Be Named ‘Nagoshi Studio’ Leaks European IP Office

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Toshihiro Nagoshi has been a big figure at SEGA ever since he worked on the massively popular Daytona USA with SEGA-AM2. Ever since then he has had his own studio, first with Amusement Vision with creating hit games like Super Monkey Ball and later to creating the massively popular Yakuza series and the Ryu Go Gotaku Studios! Nagoshi would announce him leaving SEGA this past October to work with Chinese developer NetEase.

The story has always been that Nagoshi would set to create his own new team over at NetEase and create new games for the company. Sadly the Nagoshi Studios trademark has now been removed from the EU IP Office entry, but the representative company ‘Ingenias’ has also filed a ton of IP trademarks including “Abyss Rush”.

Looking at the trademarked logo, it seems like most likely, the new studio will be barring Toshihiro Nagoshi’s family name. Nagoshi Studio makes sense and the logo having a film strip as part of its design makes sense considering RGG Studios’ games have always been highly cinematic.

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