Yakuza franchise creator Toshihiro Nagoshi’s upcoming game, Gang of Dragon, is now in trouble as its investor, NetEase, is set to cut off funding from May 2026 onwards, leaving the fates of both the game and its development studio, Nagoshi Studio, up in the air.
As the studio’s debut title, Gang of Dragon was first revealed at The Game Awards 2025 with a flashy action-focused trailer spotlighting its lead protagonist, Shin Ji-seong, portrayed by Korean action superstar Ma Dong-seok (The Roundup, Train to Busan). With Nagoshi’s roots in the Yakuza franchise, it wasn’t surprising that the title looked very similar to RGG Studio’s action flagship, albeit with a grittier feel, an added emphasis on ranged combat, and what seemed to be an extensive vehicular traversal and combat system.
As much as the trailer generated hype from audiences over a fresh take on the well-known Yakuza formula, Gang of Dragon may never come to pass after all, following a Bloomberg report that Chinese internet and gaming giant NetEase has announced its plans to stop financing Nagoshi Studio from May, in a move to cut its video game investments, one that has already led to multiple studio closures and layoffs.
Additionally, it was reported that the decision to stop funding also arose after NetEase learnt that Gang of Dragon required a hefty sum of approximately US$44.4 million to be developed, an amount the megacorp was unwilling to invest in. Following the announcement, Nagoshi Studio is apparently reaching out to other investors for assistance, but to no avail, at least for now.
It would be a shame if Gang of Dragon’s journey ended before it was even given a chance, especially considering the experience Nagoshi brings to the table and the star power that comes with having Ma as its leading man. For now, fans have to just wait with bated breath, at least until May, to see if the project stands a chance of being saved.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
