Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure unlike any other! The latest installment in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, promises a significantly larger and more ambitious experience than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Discover the exciting details revealed at RGG SUMMIT 2024.
Majima's Pirate Adventure Sets Sail in 2025
A Bigger, Bolder World Awaits
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be a truly epic adventure. RGG Studio president Masayoshi Yokoyama announced at RGG SUMMIT 2024 that the game's world and story will be a whopping 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't just a minor expansion; it's a massive leap in scale.
Yokoyama hinted at the game's expansive scope in an interview with Famitsu: "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself," he teased. "Of course, there’s Honolulu City, seen in Infinite Wealth, and various other locations like Madlantis, making it far larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden."
The game's content is equally impressive. Expect a massive amount of engaging activities, from signature brawling combat to a plethora of unique side quests and mini-games. Yokoyama even suggested that the traditional "Gaiden" concept as a simple spin-off is evolving, stating that it's "gradually disappearing from us." This hints at a fully realized experience comparable to mainline entries.
The Hawaiian Islands provide a stunning backdrop for this unique adventure. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced once again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage as he embarks on an unexpected pirate journey. How Majima becomes a pirate remains a mystery, but Ugaki's excitement is palpable: "The game's information is finally out, but there's so much more I want to share," he revealed. "I'm usually quite talkative, but I've been told to keep quiet, so I'm not entirely satisfied yet!"
Further fueling anticipation, voice actress First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama added to the intrigue: "There was an interesting recording scene; when I went to the restroom, there was an aquarium with a clownfish...and a lot of beautiful women...It wasn't a dating show, but that scene created an exciting, almost unrealistically popular feeling."
These "beautiful women" likely refer to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG sequences. Ryosuke Horii shared that the auditions for these roles were a success, with many applicants demonstrating a genuine love for the series.
For more on the auditions, check out our related article!
