Gang of Dragon heading for cancellation: NetEase cuts funding

Gang of Dragon was unveiled with great fanfare last December at The Game Awards. The new work by Japanese game designer Toshihiro Nagoshi closely resembles a series created by the same author, Yakuza/Like a Dragon, but with an even higher level of violence and a Korean protagonist, played by actor Don Lee. Now, however, the future of this game is in serious doubt.

NetEase, the Chinese company that controls Nagoshi Studio, has recently redefined its priorities in the video game sector, deciding to prioritize titles that can guarantee a constant influx of money… at the expense of others. It's no coincidence that a year ago, there were rumors that Nagoshi Studio was at high risk and that the development of Gang of Dragon had been forced to undergo major cuts. 

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

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Nagoshi Studio is about to close

Unfortunately, fears about NetEase's attitude have proven to be well-founded: as reported by Bloomberg, the Chinese company will cease funding the studio starting in May. Initially, NetEase had agreed to support Nagoshi until the game's publication, but recently it reportedly changed its mind, because another substantial injection of funds would have been necessary to complete development.

Nagoshi Studio is therefore on the verge of closure: the Japanese game designer, if he intends to complete his work, will necessarily have to find another financier. Moreover, NetEase has stated that Nagoshi is free to continue development on his own, but first he will have to pay a fair amount to acquire the intellectual property of Gang of Dragon…