Over the past year, the operational status of Toshihiro Nagoshi’s Nagoshi Studio has been shrouded in uncertainty. Recent developments have confirmed that several key team members, including those in leadership positions, have departed from the studio. This follows reports indicating that NetEase Games withdrew its financial backing for the studio, which was then followed by the studio’s official website going offline and its offices being marked as “permanently closed” on Google Maps.
Not long ago, the studio’s co-founder and game director Daisuke Sato updated his X profile to reflect his status as “ex-Nagoshi Studio,” serving as indirect confirmation of his exit. Furthermore, Nagoshi himself was featured in a Famitsu article introducing him as an independent game creator, which has raised concerns about the studio’s future. Moreover, Game*Spark, after examining LinkedIn profiles of known Nagoshi Studio staff, reported that at least seven other individuals had left the company by May 31, 2026.
Kazuki Hosokawa, who led the studio’s design department, publicly announced his resignation from Nagoshi Studio, noting that he had spent the last four and a half years “surrounded by talent” and had a fulfilling tenure at the studio.
Meanwhile, other staff members have simply updated their professional profiles to reflect new affiliations or employment statuses. This includes lead environment designer and design department deputy head Naoki Someya, who is now associated with Lightspeed Japan, as well as technical artist Tomoharu Hosaka, who has transitioned to Capcom.
Two additional former Nagoshi Studio developers joined Monster Strike developer MIXI starting in June. These include 3D cinematic artist Hiroya Wakui and lead character artist Saizo Nagai. Additionally, VFX artist Shuichi Takahashi and character artist Toshihiro Ando have not disclosed their new employers but now list Nagoshi Studio as their former workplace.
Despite these significant changes, there has been no official announcement regarding the status of Gang of Dragon – the studio’s high-profile adult drama featuring Ma Dong-Seok – or the studio’s future direction. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to observe that many former staff members have successfully transitioned to new roles at other companies.