NetEase cuts funding for ex-Yakuza dev

Bhaalspawn Jr · Post by **Bhaalspawn Jr** » March 11th, 2026, 20:34

Just thought I'd check out how the development of Gang of Dragon was doing. Discovered this disheartening news:

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/new ... n-funding/

Well this sucks. I was really looking forward to it.

Post by **Valter** » March 11th, 2026, 20:43

@methoxetamine

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 11th, 2026, 20:47

Yeah this is some pretty disappointing news, but at least we got it after only getting one little trailer and not after years of hype. Not sure what Nagoshi was thinking with the budget, does this ****** not realize Yakuza is already niche?

Acrux · Post by **Acrux** » March 11th, 2026, 21:14

Oh, I really thought that a braindead game studio was going to try and go up against a Yakuza gang now.

Bhaalspawn Jr · Post by **Bhaalspawn Jr** » March 11th, 2026, 22:58

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 11th, 2026, 20:47
Yeah this is some pretty disappointing news, but at least we got it after only getting one little trailer and not after years of hype. Not sure what Nagoshi was thinking with the budget, does this ****** not realize Yakuza is already niche?

It's sad because now we won't get a rival franchise to RGG's dying Like a Dragon. Someone said it might turn into a True Crime: Hong Kong/Sleeping Dogs situation where that game was cancelled by Activision, but saved by Square Enix. I doubt it though because the budget is allegedly humungous.

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 18th, 2026, 18:20

Forgive me for it only being vaguely relevant but I didn't want to make a new thread for the couple people who care about Yakuza

Post by **Vergil** » March 18th, 2026, 18:28

Good it looked bad

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 18th, 2026, 18:46

I know live action adaptations are always god awful but apparently this is at least soulful and done with love for the source material despite its low budget, and even has actors from the series, the guy playing Kiryu is a fan favorite villain Shishido in 7 Gaiden, Nishiki is played by his own VA, and some more. I might at least check out an ep for the hell of it

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him

Post by **Oyster Sauce** » March 18th, 2026, 20:28

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him

Horrible miscast. Was Yong Yea not available?

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 18th, 2026, 20:35

Oyster Sauce wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:28

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him
Horrible miscast. Was Yong Yea not available?

Surely they'll get him for the dub

Post by **Vergil** » March 18th, 2026, 20:49

Oyster Sauce wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:28

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him
Horrible miscast. Was Yong Yea not available?

What if instead of Yong Yea his name was gay raped slave whose head I ritualisticly cut off?

Bhaalspawn Jr · Post by **Bhaalspawn Jr** » March 18th, 2026, 20:52

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him

Watched it too. Those scenes on the streets did make me chuckle. I think they did a good job overall. Only issue I had was Kiryu's escape from the Tojo HQ. It was kind of sloppy (the bad guys had plenty of opportunities to shoot Kiryu, but they never fired a shot). Also needed more fight scenes sprinkled in.

► Show Spoiler

Stack of Turtles · Post by **Stack of Turtles** » March 18th, 2026, 20:53

Vergil wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:49

Oyster Sauce wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:28

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him
Horrible miscast. Was Yong Yea not available?
What if instead of Yong Yea his name was gay raped slave whose head I ritualisticly cut off?

That would be a really weird name.

Post by **methoxetamine** » March 18th, 2026, 20:58

Bhaalspawn Jr wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:52

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him
Watched it too. Those scenes on the streets did make me chuckle. I think they did a good job overall. Only issue I had was Kiryu's escape from the Tojo HQ. It was kind of sloppy (the bad guys had plenty of opportunities to shoot Kiryu, but they never fired a shot). Also needed more fight scenes sprinkled in.

► Show Spoiler
The actress playing Reina is pretty cute

That was my one complaint actually too but at least the stupidity is in character for the series. Pleasant surprise for me though since I originally never planned on watching it, I think it's only a 3 part mini-series also and I know 2 episodes are out but not sure about the 3rd

DrSneed · Post by **DrSneed** » March 18th, 2026, 22:48

Oyster Sauce wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:28

methoxetamine wrote: ↑ March 18th, 2026, 20:22

Finished episode 1 and it's actually not that bad. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's never played the games but I think it's an enjoyable adaptation for Yakuza fans based on the first episode

They do some soulful stuff like reference talking to npc's on the streets and showing Kiryu walking with game backgrounds behind him
Horrible miscast. Was Yong Yea not available?

you mean Jaq?