End of the Road for Nagoshi Studio: Gang of Dragon Trailers Removed and YouTube Channel Taken Down

Nagoshi Studio has deleted its official YouTube channel and removed all trailers for its debut game, Gang of Dragon, following the withdrawal of funding from parent company NetEase. The move comes after reports in March 2026 that NetEase would cease all financial support to the studio, a decision that has raised serious concerns about the future of the highly anticipated Yakuza successor.

The studio, led by former SEGA CCO and Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, had gained attention after unveiling Gang of Dragon at The Game Awards 2025. However, multiple sources confirmed that by April 2026, the studio’s YouTube presence had been entirely erased, with no official trailers or developer content remaining on the platform. Users searching for the game’s trailers on YouTube now find only third-party uploads or versions hosted by external accounts such as The Game Awards’ official channel.

According to reports from Destructoid and other technology outlets, NetEase had informed Nagoshi Studio that funding would be fully withdrawn by May 2026 unless the studio secured new financial backing. In addition to finding new investors, NetEase reportedly required the studio to raise sufficient funds to purchase the game’s intellectual property and assets from the publisher — a condition described as financially prohibitive for an independent studio.

Earlier in March 2026, it was reported that Nagoshi Studio needed an additional $44 million to complete development of Gang of Dragon. Despite efforts to attract alternative funding, no new deal appears to have been finalized by late April 2026. The deletion of the studio’s YouTube channel and promotional materials is being interpreted by industry observers as a sign that development has effectively stalled or been abandoned.

While the Nagoshi Studio website remains accessible as of April 24, 2026, the absence of official communication channels and the removal of all public-facing media have led to widespread speculation that the studio may not survive beyond the immediate future. No statement has been issued by Toshihiro Nagoshi or NetEase regarding the status of Gang of Dragon or potential next steps for the studio.

The situation underscores the volatility of mid-tier game development in an industry where even high-profile projects can be derailed by shifts in publisher strategy. Gang of Dragon was positioned as a spiritual successor to the Yakuza series, aiming to carry forward Nagoshi’s signature blend of crime drama, character-driven storytelling, and stylized action. Its uncertain fate now serves as a cautionary tale about the dependence of creative studios on external funding and the risks posed when publishers reevaluate their investment portfolios.