{
  "id": 17817859,
  "title": "Nagoshi Studio, from the creator of the Yakuza series, officially shuts down",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/nagoshi-studio-from-the-creator-of-the-yakuza-series-officially-shuts",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T16:03:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Engadget",
    "slug": "engadget",
    "url": "https://www.engadget.com/2303975/nagoshi-studio-from-the-creator-of-the-yakuza-series-officially-shuts-down/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nagoshi Studio, the brainchild of Yakuza franchise creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, has officially ceased operations. Following the release of the game's first trailer in December 2025, the studio hoped to build upon the success of the Yakuza series with an ambitious project called Gang of Dragon. Scheduled to delve deeper into the organized crime underworld of Tokyo's Kabuchiko district, the game's protagonist was set to be Shin Ji-Seong. However, despite initial enthusiasm, financial backing from investor NetEase was withdrawn, leaving the project short of its $44 million funding goal. In response, Nagoshi Studio announced its decision to wind down operations, as detailed in its official notice published in Japan's government gazette Kanpo. The studio's dissolution took place on October 31 during a shareholders meeting. Although the game's Steam page remains operational, the likelihood of Gang of Dragon ever emerging from development limbo appears slim.",
  "summary": "It's unclear what will happen to the studio's work on Gang of Dragon.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "GamesIndustry",
        "title": "Gang of Dragon developer Nagoshi Studio shutters months after NetEase cut funding",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/gang-of-dragon-developer-nagoshi-studio-shutters-months-after-netease",
        "published": "2026-11-02T10:00:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}