Toshihiro Nagoshi, the former creative chief behind Sega’s Yakuza franchise, has unveiled his first major game since leaving the company in 2021, signaling a return to the crime genre with a more restrained and cinematic direction.
The project, titled Gang of Dragon, was revealed during The Game Awards 2025 through an in-engine trailer that showcased a stark depiction of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district. Developed by Nagoshi Studio in collaboration with NetEase Games, the title appears to move away from the humor and side activities associated with Nagoshi’s earlier work.
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The trailer centers on a new protagonist portrayed by Korean actor Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, who plays a senior enforcer in a Korean crime syndicate operating within Kabukicho’s underworld. The footage emphasized close-quarters violence and grounded intimidation rather than spectacle or comic relief.
Nagoshi established his independent studio after reaching an agreement with NetEase in early 2022, bringing together a team that includes several former members of Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Key developers from the Like a Dragon series are involved in the project across directing, art, and programming roles.
Although the game has drawn comparisons to Yakuza, early details suggest Gang of Dragon is designed to deliver a tighter narrative experience, minimizing mini-games and exaggerated side content in favor of a focused crime story.
NetEase has not announced a release window or confirmed console platforms for the game. At present, Gang of Dragon has only been listed for PC via Steam, with additional information expected to be released as development progresses.