Toshihiro Nagoshi’s work on the Yakuza series is pretty iconic, to the point where few were surprised to see his next project, Gang of Dragon, taking several cues from the same. Make no mistake, though, as everything in it has been “conceived and built from the ground up.”
“The passion and enthusiasm we received from game fans around the world have been a tremendous source of strength and encouragement for our entire team,” said Nagoshi in a New Year’s Greetings post on the studio’s official site.
He described Gang of Dragon as a “human drama centered on outcasts living in the real district of Kabukicho.” “From the cityscape and world setting to the overall gameplay experience, every element has been conceived and built from the ground up as we move forward with planning and development. Our team remains fully committed to creating a work that we can confidently deliver to players around the world.”
And while there’s currently no release window for the platform, Nagoshi hoped that this year would be “filled with a wonderful and fulfilling game life for all players.”
Gang of Dragon stars Ma Dong-seok, a veteran actor and director best known for Train to Busan and Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (and also featuring in Kojima Productions’ Physint). He plays Shin Ji-seong, a member of a Korean crime syndicate caught up in some infernal, underworld affairs. Though the finer plot details remain unknown, he’ll forge “intense, human connections that push him to confront his own sense of purpose,” per the game’s Steam page.
Much like Yakuza, Gang of Dragon features melee combat, both bare-handed and with weapons, though you can also wield firearms. Perhaps the biggest difference is the ability to drive vehicles and engage in “high-impact” action. You can even modify them in different ways.
We’ll need to wait for more details, but it’s been quite the journey for Nagoshi, who left Sega in 2021 to establish his new studio under NetEase Games in 2022. Interestingly, he likened it to a Quentin Tarantino film back in 2022, perhaps hinting at more brutal events and dark humor than Yakuza.
