It Certainly Looks Like Yakuza Successor Gang Of Dragon Is Dead
Gang of Dragon, the debut title from newly formed Nagoshi Studios and helmed by legendary Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, appears to have been quietly cancelled. The game was unveiled at The Game Awards but quickly encountered serious financial difficulties when primary funder NetEase announced it was withdrawing its support.
According to reports from March, Nagoshi Studios required approximately ¥7 billion (roughly $44 million USD) to complete development of the PlayStation 5 title. With NetEase unwilling to continue funding, the studio faced a critical funding crisis, with the publisher’s financial support set to cease in May.
While no official announcement has been made by either Nagoshi Studios or NetEase, multiple indicators suggest the project has been abandoned. The studio’s YouTube channel mysteriously disappeared before reappearing, and their official website went offline. These developments, combined with reports of the studio’s apparent closure, paint a picture of a project in serious distress.
Fans of Nagoshi’s work continue to hold out hope that a financial savior might emerge to rescue the project, though such an outcome appears increasingly unlikely. The situation underscores the precarious position of independent studios dependent on external funding, particularly when primary backers withdraw support mid-development.