In a nutshell
- Nagoshi Studio has officially been dissolved following a shareholders’ resolution on October 31.
- The Tokyo-based studio was established in 2021 by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi under NetEase Games.
- The closure comes months after reports indicated that NetEase planned to end funding for the developer.
Japanese developer Nagoshi Studio has officially shut down, according to a notice published in Japan’s government gazette. The studio was dissolved through a shareholders’ resolution on October 31, bringing an end to the company founded by Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi under NetEase Games in 2021.
End of the Road for Nagoshi Studio
Based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Nagoshi Studio was established in November 2021 shortly after Nagoshi’s departure from SEGA. Backed by NetEase Games, the studio was formed with the goal of creating high-quality titles led by one of Japan’s most recognizable game creators.
While the studio maintained a relatively low profile during its early years, it eventually unveiled its first title, GANG OF DRAGON, in December 2025. The action-adventure game was set in Kabukicho and featured Korean actor Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) in a starring role.
Closure Follows Funding Concerns
The news follows a report from Bloomberg in March 2026 claiming that NetEase Games planned to discontinue funding for Nagoshi Studio in May. The report also stated that the studio had the option to pursue independence if it could finance its operations on its own.
