# Nagoshi Studio shuts down

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-02 07:40 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
Nagoshi Studio, founded by Yakuza series creator Toshiro Nagoshi, has officially shut down, cancelling the development of the game Gang of Dragon.

## Intelligence Brief
Nagoshi Studio, the development house led by Yakuza series creator Toshiro Nagoshi, has officially dissolved. According to reports from AUTOMATON, the studio's closure was formally documented in the Japanese government gazette as of October 31. This shutdown brings an immediate end to the development of the studio's primary project, titled Gang of Dragon. The game was described by Kotaku as a spiritual successor to the Yakuza series and featured the involvement of star Ma Dong-seok. Despite the high profile of its leadership and talent, the studio ceased operations before it could release a single title. Broad coverage of the closure has emerged from multiple gaming and industry outlets including IGN, Game Informer, Gematsu, and YugaTech.


GamesIndustry.biz highlights a critical financial turning point, reporting that the studio shutters months after NetEase cut its funding. This financial link is further emphasized by VGChartz, which explicitly states that NetEase Games shut down the studio. Other outlets such as Anime News Network and iXBT.games have focused on the loss of the studio as a significant event for Toshiro Nagoshi, given his established history as a prominent figure in game design. To understand the timeline, the studio's closure occurs less than one year after the official reveal of Gang of Dragon. Insider Gaming and TOY PEOPLE both note that the studio is shutting down approximately one year after the game's unveiling at The Game Awards. The project was highly anticipated due to its connection to the Yakuza series creator and its starring role for Ma Dong-seok.


The rapid transition from a major award-show reveal to total dissolution underscores the volatility of the project's funding and operational stability under NetEase. Moving forward, the status of the Gang of Dragon project remains precarious. While Game Informer reports that development has ended with the studio's closure, Inven Global notes that the future of the Ma Dong-seok starrer is officially uncertain. Because the studio has been dissolved as of October 31, there is currently no active development team associated with the title. Observers will likely watch for any indications of whether the intellectual property remains with NetEase or if the project is permanently cancelled.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| 80 Level | Yakuza Creator's Studio Has Been Dissolved | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMic0FVX3lxTE02NWN1VFQyUHRWaFlHdFVENzhsZVVVQlZ0bVZkbVVBM29sdUNXR2xZNkZReVFIT0JwQ3pRT05ZSklxcnk3QWhvMWRBN3FrTU5RbmdIVGpmUnQ3MklIWE5qcHpxNmpDcXgyR3dPVWhrVXEzV0U?oc=5) |
| https://tech-insider.org/ | Gang of Dragon After Nagoshi Studio: 324 Days [2026] | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNeHZocE1LWEZpR21Sbm9pazY2VHlyUzFHWUllYzFmazdPNTVPb3RXY09FejJZMUNMUXNfZldSZ2J1bEhhWUJIVXdBaXg2Mmx4LUZEZk00Qi02RmlzTXBOMFZ0ZWd4V0p3MnFEQnB1ZHBnWHVIOGkxUXRvLU5xd3BSUEZ2VldHcF82eHpjRUY0dGVEbnZSLV9N?oc=5) |
| Game Informer | Yakuza Creator Toshiro Nagoshi's Studio Has Officially Shut Down, Ending Gang Of Dragon's Development With It | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxOY2x4RjhkLXFGREk1NG9yTjhzQ1VOX0c1VEI5M1lxZVY1RlBIeU5pOXlHVDlXUVZ2LWl5WG5NUEZGZHdWUl9PRWJOYXNrUE9KSlpxX1JSS0dtU2hUaTFQY3lrTk5zRzROdDU4Y3JQU0tPNEF4aGsyT1VBa1k1cjhiZTBVTWRwc2ZCU3BQQkxGUkRDQnY1MFd3LWFHaUZ4ZnY0TzdtTU16azNtdzI0M0s5WEJvakd2UXI0ajJWYU9RUQ?oc=5) |
| Anime News Network | Toshihiro Nagoshi's Nagoshi Studio Shuts Down | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxOdkF6SXR5TlZhb0pBRXJiUWo1MVI4bWd3TFAyMUpzZ0xwYmVXRUNqRWhCMlJxUlJCanUydEVaejVVUXN3bUczbFc3UGtYTi01dXhaTGRWYzAtX3BOYnBaVmJLOXYtdHc5UVd1OS02TnJXTUhSNDlPV2NmTzhUNlN5Vl9UMUpHYUZqMVdXY0FZSmQ2SlBqTngzNzlBWDQ3UEJlaUE?oc=5) |
| Kotaku | Yakuza Spiritual Successor Gang Of Dragon Seemingly Cancelled As Nagoshi Studio Is Closed | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPY0k0NmR6eEo2MlBQS2x4WFV5VjljU2R5M2QySzBNVHdlMjYyTnJoQ2p0RGFiYWEzUzVSUi11RzJHQ3Z4SzNVclhwUGw5Tml2eUx0Y3RvX2JGcTlNSjRYaTdQcEhwRXFWUnMwVGpVSmlNYkZfQWVzbmh2b08zemVabDd2ZFRLb0ZUYXhkOUhQYkJRODltVWROd1JDbHNteDVQWFJMX0IyNm5LYUFjVnREaFdVX3Naay1KaEow?oc=5) |
| Insider Gaming | Nagoshi Studio Officially Shut Down One Year After The Game Awards Reveal | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibkFVX3lxTFBqRFlHOUN6OEZQRkFRX2d3bE9iY0V2NjdvTVhELWo5eGg2M0FnLV9SX0hQdy1hUWQ5em80OHpBb0tqWkdRZ2ExcmFoOWUxR2IzRlNkS1FfNzJ6UjNRS1ljOGRoeXNQR1A2aG9BR1pB?oc=5) |
| IGN | Yakuza Series Creator Toshiro Nagoshi's Studio Has Officially Shut Down Before Releasing a Game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxNa0l4Y19yNjdVQkRqZ25rSEdxemR6S3dRQ3dENjlSNlYzX3g4cVV6VzJsTWp1WnFlSXFEbzhQbkVUYnFKbm11amVQYXFFcE5tUEFzRk16eG5tcG9OX18tS2lXbXJOVWEzUE9ZTmk3Qm5xak1CbmxKZjJuUDl2YS0wRmdDUWlwcnVTNllsdGtDamNKaXVnRy04dmJ4d3g0NTY5ZFZpR2kzX1pPZi1GU1Z2UE9yNmtNVGFvVk5sX1BVRTI?oc=5) |
| GamesIndustry.biz | Gang of Dragon developer Nagoshi Studio shutters months after NetEase cut funding | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNdWxZZl85VWlzRkVtdDdtOXJ0Zjc3Vm1meU9XZkZhVEhIS056aU9fZ1NpSEgyemJuQzhQTEFzZjlmbmp5RGxRR241M1BubGVYTXRQTmlORExuSy1FUHlYaUt3RlY3U2FfSlhmV3JxUVBzY3hDRjViUmx2a0xucU04VTJNNjNhWGVyd1UzZ252VUhnMUcyd01aOVFVZno2RE9HWEVwQzgzRkVhR19OZDlqLQ?oc=5) |
| Inven Global | Nagoshi Studio Dissolves... Future of Ma Dong-seok Starrer 'GANG OF DRAGON' Uncertain | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxPMFJ4SUdFdHBxUXhNVTBJUXBxYnlmWk1vQmV6RGpWNjUzTENLMVVCbDBWVjY3aWdUYjhLSktILW9FNDFOdmx3Vy1Qd2xpNUtZYXZ4YnpBdkRweTY1RlZwdzVhd1JOdDVoYm9hczZyLUF6VXE5ejBnMHRxcHFLQmxOYWt6SmJ5VW1KZFZvZTRqdDVwMW9QdzRGNTlnSXpONlJUZWFaWTRySlQ4NFpFVjBxUDlUUEUyeEM5ZmwyRkUtel8?oc=5) |
| AUTOMATON | Nagoshi Studio officially dissolved as of October 31, according to Japanese government gazette | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiygFBVV95cUxObk5PMkJoYThKVEF3d3VteHdCMkR1ak0xdmNFWk5sOUc3ZG1xZ2twbmZ5SGEtYmE3dVJ0SW1SdktNSEt4eWhkQnBxWVpBT2oybWRTZVdTOHhKRno2cF83QnhQRmZjWF9oVkVsV091TXRaOVQySGNyV2ZfS1JTUDh6UV9idHhlQmxxYXNlYjNZMWdvQkNQb1dWbzhGZlRhbHRaenRGb1hHYVpxSWJLNUpEZlhJUVRqaExiLXlwdHIySGw2MUdBWkVrMm1B?oc=5) |
| YugaTech | Gang of Dragon developer Nagoshi Studio shuts down | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxQWk9DS2NzX1c1OUZCcTJFWl9PTDRLMnFnN0hLZm9uUjRhSXB5Mkx2OVhxcVk1c2hTR2ZQTEJxNWppSmVrdkFyQTZ6SEVvMjZlRm8yUzFHbWN5cUROT1lOVUZiT1lxTHE2cTJlX0lqX05iZG5zVVVIUU5PR3RCU0IydW42TTR3d3VZ?oc=5) |
| 玩具人 TOY PEOPLE | Toshihiro Nagoshi's Nagoshi Studio Officially Dissolved Less Than a Year After "GANG OF DRAGON" Reveal | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUEFVX3lxTE84RFZFT2RQRzhqMFRSM0hMSUxQYVB3eHEzYWIza2lhSzFGTFE0U2xScTc1S3pVNnlxd2hzWERyYmkwdnI1YUZTZ1QtbkROcGtD?oc=5) |
| iXBT.games | Yakuza creator’s studio officially closed | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxOb0ZhcW15NHBCemlHRFBvZVpTaHRJQ3RuMnFQX3paWjFhZEd4bE80THRWNmlNOHJfQmQ5eDV4cnhRTDZTVmpuNkpocGpkWEllSVBxT3dUOVpWaThsc3IzaUtjZ1c4MlhhZEpHVTJlY204RWw5LXpmUDdNc2NuLWhSRU5BMGp0QmJHcTdDTmRPVdIBlAFBVV95cUxQUWcxeWRLWnUxRGtadUxIaDkzVDhHZms5NDByaDVTaVhoVVdJUnJnWEVfNjluSEI4VTZORnpKcm5Kd3k1T1Q4R2pLMUZjVnpTVkhqRFRkOUloOHAwT0NLYkZibHRUMjFXdkl4UFEwVkRHZWs3eDEyTVR1ZVlhb09yRnV3cUxHSjAzT2pyZVpsdVRWMGF5?oc=5) |
| VGChartz | NetEase Games Shuts Down Nagoshi Studio | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNZ2FVMFNyN2NxTjBIbGt2SWlPc2hweEpQZlNMSjhIUHZPcGthSlotWUcyYnhOWlcybVFIRHdGNGhIV1FYR0lFT09sbEhlLVRKYXl3eDJXMXhZaTIxdFhXTWV0WTRGMUNqU2RISTNIbmtyNVo0MGs2Z3RNenhrTFFyX3ZmS2tEb3c?oc=5) |
| Gematsu | Nagoshi Studio shuts down | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiaEFVX3lxTE9CZDBHTVFPN0p1aGpSeWVRTUhXQlZKZmdxTzk2ZERyZGUwQzhYZ3BSUlBfS19ZSkYwQ2RDeWZzYXFrSXlHTFByQjNya29jdEtSdFlja2JwQ3JncE9VMmZyMHZPeHB5ejJQ?oc=5) |

---
*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoaiapps.com/trend/2026-11-02/nagoshi-studio-shuts-down*