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Nagoshi Studio Dissolved After NetEase Cuts Funding

NetEase withdrew support after being told the game needed about ¥7 billion more to finish, which leaves the project's assets, staff, future unresolved.

Overview

  • The company was dissolved by a shareholders' resolution on October 31, 2026, a closure recorded in Japan's official Kanpo government gazette.
  • NetEase confirmed it cut funding earlier in 2026 after reports said Gang of Dragon required roughly ¥7 billion (about $44–45 million) more to complete, triggering the studio's wind-down.
  • Nagoshi Studio sought new sponsors but failed to secure a backer, and NetEase told the developer it could continue only if it paid to retain the game's assets and branding.
  • Gang of Dragon was unveiled at The Game Awards 2025 and stars Ma Dong-seok, but the title's trailers and channels were pulled while some storefront listings, such as Steam, remain live and the game's future is unclear.
  • The closure follows a broader NetEase pullback from overseas game investments, has prompted staff departures, and raises questions about how large external funders shape Japan's game studios and projects.