Yakuza Creator’s Upcoming Game May Face Challenges

In Short:

• The debut game of Nagoshi Studiocould be impacted by budget cuts as NetEase’s founder focuses on cost-saving strategies
• Lack of additional funding for development, marketing, and promotion could threaten the game’s chances of success
• NetEase is currently prioritizing more profitable games, making it unlikely that Nagoshi’s planned project will meet expectations

Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of the Yakuza series, may see his next project in trouble as NetEase reportedly enforces budget reductions, impacting his own Nagoshi Studio.

Having departed from the Yakuza franchise after Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020, his collaboration with NetEase might come with significant challenges.

In October 2021, Nagoshi revealed his departure from Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, following the launch of Lost Judgment, an action-adventure game and standalone spin-off of the main Yakuza series.

Shortly after its founding, Nagoshi Studio set out to develop its first game, which is intended to be a large-scale project, though little information is available about it.

As per gamerant, the project may need to be scaled down to fit within time and budget limitations. According to a new Bloomberg report, NetEase founder William Ding is considering significant budget reductions across multiple development studios under the company’s umbrella.

These cost-cutting measures have already led to job losses, including layoffs at Marvel Rivals, where the entire Seattle-based development team was dismissed earlier this week. The same report offers mixed news for those eagerly awaiting Nagoshi’s still-unnamed project.

According to unnamed sources in the report, Nagoshi and his team will be allowed to complete their current project. However, they are not expected to receive additional funding or extended development time, and there is no budget allocated for marketing or promotion.

Nagoshi Studio’s Debut Game Faces Budget Cuts and Time Constraints

Despite years of expanding its presence in the gaming industry, NetEase is now shifting its strategy. According to the report, William Ding is refocusing on highly profitable, long-lasting titles like Eggy Party, a 2022 casual game exclusive to Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms.

Eggy Party launched globally in February 2024 and has gained significant popularity among children in mainland China. Reports suggest that NetEase’s founder is now focused solely on games with the potential to generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually, a benchmark that Nagoshi’s upcoming project may struggle to achieve

The Yakuza series appears to be thriving following Nagoshi’s exit, with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio having released four titles since his departure. The most recent, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, launched on February 21.

The latest action RPG is receiving widespread acclaim, boasting an 84% recommendation rate from professional reviewers on OpenCritic, along with early positive feedback from the few players who have rated it on Steam.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

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