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Bloomberg: China's NetEase is in final negotiations to poach Yakuza franchise creator Toshihiro Nagoshi from Sega

purseowner

purseowner

From the mirror universe
Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,445
UK



www.bloomberg.co.jp

ネットイース、セガの著名ゲーム制作者獲得で交渉－日本進出を拡大

中国ゲーム大手のネットイース（網易）はセガサミーホールディングス傘下セガのゲームクリエーターで「龍が如く」シリーズの生みの親として知られる名越稔洋氏の移籍に向け、現在詰めの交渉を行っていることが30日までに明らかになった。複数の関係者が匿名を条件に明らかにした。
www.bloomberg.co.jp www.bloomberg.co.jp

NetEase Inc. is in final negotiations to poach Yakuza franchise creator Toshihiro Nagoshi from Sega, a sign of how Chinese games companies are expanding beyond their home turf during a government-led crackdown.

The hire from Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. would mark the biggest coup in a contest between NetEase and close rival Tencent Holdings Ltd. to scoop up video game talent and assets in Japan, made more urgent by slowing growth and regulatory pressure at home.

Nagoshi, who developed and helms one of Sega's most successful action series, is expected to set up his own team and create new games, people familiar with the matter said. He hasn't signed a final contract and his duties have yet to be finalized, they said, asking not to be identified discussing a private deal.

Tencent and NetEase are on a multiyear quest to fill out their content libraries with more of Japan's highly prized animation, comics and games (ACG) titles, betting on their potential to become global blockbuster hits. In a country that's typically taken a skeptical view to outside investment, their ventures are now finding a more receptive audience in the wake of the pandemic's impact on funding and Sony Group Corp. cutbacks on support for small studios.

Tencent, the world's largest games publisher, regards Japanese content as a potential anchor for its increasingly critical effort to build a Disney-style global media juggernaut that also spans video, music and books. It's on the brink of adding another studio to its string of acquisitions in recent years, according to the people.
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Strings

Strings

Member
Oct 27, 2017
31,597
Well that's depressing :( Nagoshi is such a Sega institution - it'll feel strange to see him go.

EDIT: Calls to mind this interview he did just about 10 years ago:
We've seen a big shake-up lately, with high-powered Japanese creators leaving companies, most significantly Inafune from Capcom. You're still at Sega, and it seems like you're satisfied there.

TN: Well, I don't know if I'd call myself all that high-powered [laughs]. It's hard to say whether the trend is a good thing and for everyone's best interests, but a creator needs to be someplace where he can shine the brightest, and that's not necessarily always going to happen by going it alone.

It's not that I'm satisfied at Sega so much as I really owe one to Sega -- they taught me how much fun making games can be. I doubt I would leave this company in 10 or even 20 years. Unless something really drastic happens, I'm not going to leave on my own volition.
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www.gamedeveloper.com

The Man Who Won't Leave Sega: Toshihiro Nagoshi

The man behind the Yakuza series explains how he's fighting for his pride with his latest project, the sci-fi shooter Binary Domain, and why he can't see himself leaving Sega anytime soon, despite the flight of Japanese talent from big companies.
www.gamedeveloper.com www.gamedeveloper.com
 
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bombermouse

bombermouse

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,056
Oh wow, end of an era but looking forward to the new direction team rgg will take with the two current franchises going forward
 
CONCHOBAR

CONCHOBAR

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,915
I understand everyone has their price, but this is surprising. Dude seems to have a real passion for Yakuza; weird to think he might walk away.
 
OP
OP
purseowner

purseowner

From the mirror universe
Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,445
UK
Whilst Yakuza has multiple key writers, he's such a driving creative force behind the thing.

I'm gutted.

They might put it on Switch now though.
 
Izanagi89

Izanagi89

"This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance
Member
Oct 27, 2017
14,847
Wtf. Netease of all companies. This is the worst news
 
Sargerus

Sargerus

▲ Legend ▲
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
20,933
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
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Neoxon

Neoxon

Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst
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Oct 25, 2017
85,711
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A shame to see Nagoshi go when Yakuza was just starting to take off, but I'm curious to see what he'll do next.
 
pbayne

pbayne

Corrupted by Vengeance
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Oct 27, 2017
8,489
If so he left the studio in a good position at least, though im sure itll not be easy for someone to step up and fill his role either
 
starfoxxxy

starfoxxxy

Gravity Is Hard
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Mar 13, 2021
6,488
Do the yakuza games sell well in china? Seems like something that wouldn't be acceptable
 

Deleted member 17676

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,454
Nagoshi, who developed and helms one of Sega's most successful action series, is expected to set up his own team and create new games, people familiar with the matter said. He hasn't signed a final contract and his duties have yet to be finalized, they said, asking not to be identified discussing a private deal.
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Yep, so sadly it's a question of how many of the RGG staff he is going to take with him.
 
Einherjer

Einherjer

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
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Oct 27, 2017
2,924
Germany
Lord Vatek said:
So... can Yakuza have a female protagonist now?
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I don't really see that happening considering how male dominated the Yakuza traditionally are:

The Yakuza is populated almost entirely by men and the very few women who are acknowledged are the wives of bosses, who are referred to by the title ane-san (姐さん, older sister).
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Maybe a revenge story with a widow (or daughter) of a yakuza boss could work, hell that even sounds pretty good now that i think about it.
 
Bebpo

Bebpo

Member
Feb 4, 2018
4,759
On one hand this sounds bad because Yakuza is a series that keeps delivering and changing the head is an unknown quantity.

On the other hand, at this point I'd think some of the assistant directors and other staff who've been making nothing but these games for a decade are probably well equipped to take over and lead the franchise if Nagoshi leaves.

Also it's not like the Yakuza games don't have a lot of bad stuff/issues with them, so a change may actually improve them...
 
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