Nagoshi Studio Deletes YouTube Channel Amid NetEase Funding Cut

Toshihiro Nagoshi's independent studio has removed its entire YouTube channel and promotional trailers for its debut game, Gang of Dragon, amid reports of severed funding from Chinese publisher NetEase, casting serious doubt on the project's survival.

The deletion, noticed by fans in recent days, follows NetEase's decision last month to withdraw financial support after learning the game required an additional 7 billion yen, or about $44.4 million, to complete development. The move leaves Nagoshi Studio, founded by the veteran developer in 2022 after his departure from Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, scrambling for new investors. According to reports, the studio must now secure enough funds not only to continue work but also to repurchase the game's intellectual property and assets from NetEase if it hopes to proceed independently. Nagoshi has not issued a public statement on the matter, and the studio's last social media post dates back to early February.

Gang of Dragon, unveiled at The Game Awards in late 2025, was positioned as a spiritual successor to Nagoshi's acclaimed Yakuza series. Set in the real-life Kabukicho nightlife district of Tokyo's Shinjuku neighborhood, the...