YAKUZA SERIES EXPLODES WITH NEW PIRATE ADVENTURE

Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure unlike any other! 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 details revealed at RGG SUMMIT 2024.

Majima's Pirate Pursuit Sets Sail in 2025

A Bigger, Bolder Yakuza Experience Awaits

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to deliver a grander, more expansive experience than its predecessor. RGG Studio president, Masayoshi Yokoyama, announced at RGG SUMMIT 2024 that the game's story and world will be approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden.

This isn't just a minor expansion; it's a complete overhaul in scale. Yokoyama hinted at the game's vastness in an interview with Famitsu: "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself," he teased, adding that Honolulu (featured in Infinite Wealth), Madlantis, and various other locations contribute to a much larger game world than Gaiden.

The game's content is equally expansive. Expect a robust offering of the series' signature brawling combat, alongside a wealth of quirky side activities and minigames. Yokoyama suggested the traditional "Gaiden" label as a spin-off is becoming obsolete, indicating this title is a substantial, mainline-level experience.

Set against the backdrop of the Hawaiian islands, the game promises a significant departure from previous titles. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. While the details of Majima's transformation remain shrouded in mystery, Ugaki expressed excitement while remaining tight-lipped about the plot.

"The game's information has been revealed, but there's so much more to tell," Ugaki stated. "I'm usually quite talkative, but I've been instructed to stay silent, so I'm not fully satisfied yet!"

Adding to the intrigue, voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) hinted at a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama himself teased a memorable recording experience, mentioning an aquarium and "many beautiful women" on set, sparking speculation about the game's narrative. These "beautiful women" may be connected to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear both in live-action and CG form, following auditions held earlier this year.

For more on the auditions, check out our related article!