Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure unlike any other! The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to be significantly larger and more ambitious than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Discover the exciting revelations from RGG SUMMIT 2024.
Majima's Pirate Life Begins in 2025
A Bigger, Bolder Yakuza Experience Awaits
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to be a truly expansive experience. RGG Studio President Masayoshi Yokoyama announced at RGG SUMMIT 2024 that the game's world and story will be 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 immense size in an interview with Famitsu, stating (via machine translation): "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself. Of course there’s Honolulu City, which appeared in [Infinite Wealth], and there are various stages, such as Madlantis, so I think the game volume is much larger than [Like a Dragon Gaiden]."
The sheer volume of content is equally impressive. Expect the series' signature brawling combat, alongside a wealth of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama suggested that the traditional understanding of "Gaiden" titles as mere spin-offs is evolving, stating that the concept is "gradually disappearing." This indicates a full-fledged experience comparable to mainline entries.
The Hawaiian setting provides a refreshing change of pace. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. While the specifics of Majima's transformation remain a mystery, Ugaki expressed his excitement while remaining tight-lipped about the details. He commented: "The information about the game has finally been announced, but there are many other elements and there is still a lot of information I want to tell you... I’ve been told not to say anything, so I’m not completely satisfied yet."
Voice actress First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) and Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita) offered intriguing hints. Akiyama teased a live-action scene and a memorable recording experience involving an aquarium and "a lot of beautiful women." These "beautiful women" might refer to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form. The studio held auditions earlier this year, attracting many passionate fans. Ryosuke Horii commented on the auditions, stating: "I was glad that many of the people who appeared without knowing what kind of role they would play had a love for the series and a passion to work with us."
For more on the auditions, explore our related article!
