Nagoshi Studios' director appears to have left after funding pull

Nagoshi Studios, founded by Toshihiro Nagoshi and Daisuke Sato after their 2021 departure from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, has shown signs of decline over the past year. The situation intensified when Sato updated his Twitter/X bio to read 'ex-Nagoshi Studio,Inc,' suggesting he is no longer with the company.

Troubles surfaced in February 2025 when NetEase reduced several gaming investments and pared back marketing support for Nagoshi Studios' debut, Gang of Dragon. A new trailer for the game appeared at The Game Awards in December, but that exposure has not eased the uncertainty surrounding the project.

In March it emerged that NetEase would stop funding the studio in May while Nagoshi Studios sought an additional $44.4 million to finish and ship Gang of Dragon. In April a YouTube channel briefly appeared deleted or banned, and a month ago the studio's website went inactive and its offices were listed as 'permanently closed' on Google.

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