We have known since this summer, but it is now official: Toshihiro Nagoshi, historical figure of SEGA for 29 years, is no longer part of the Japanese company. If we know that the man behind great successes such as Virtua Racing, Super Monkey Ball, F-Zero GX and the Yakuza saga) has gone to the Chinese NetEase, the latter wanted to leave a message to thank all the fans who trusted him during these 29 years of hard work. He explains that by leaving SEGA, he also gives up his position as studio director Ryu Ga Gotoku. He explains that the series will continue to exist without him and that the studio has retruscted and will still need the support of the players. A message of benevolence therefore, knowing that Toshihiro Nagoshi is not the only one to leave SEGA, since Daisuke Sato, the producer of the Yakuza series, is also going to new horizons. The latter accompanied Nagoshi-san for the past 15 years and is also grateful to SEGA for his letter of departure left to the fans.
In the process, SEGA wanted to reassure the players, starting by formalizing the development of Yakuza 8. It is Masayoshi Yokoyama, who has worked since the very first Yakuza as a screenwriter, who takes the head of the studio, while Ryosuke Horii, game director of episode 7 Yakuza: Like a Dragon, becomes the director of the saga. They confirm that this Yakuza 8 will continue to deal with the adventures of Kasuga Ichiban and that the game will be presented on time, 6 months to a year from now. We will obviously be patient and it is a page that is turning in the history of SEGA.
