Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure! The upcoming 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. RGG Studio's announcements at RGG SUMMIT 2024 revealed exciting details.
Majima's Pirate Adventure Sets Sail in 2025
A Grander Scale for Pirate Yakuza
RGG Studio President Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's story and world will be approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a simple expansion; it's a completely new level of adventure. Yokoyama hinted at the game's expansive scale, mentioning Honolulu City (seen in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) and other locations like Madlantis, contributing to a significantly larger game volume.
The game's content is equally impressive. Expect the series' signature brawling combat, alongside a wealth of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama suggested the traditional "Gaiden" concept as a smaller spin-off is evolving, potentially blurring the lines between spin-offs and mainline entries.
The Hawaiian setting provides a unique change of pace, even more so than Like a Dragon Gaiden. Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. The circumstances of Majima's transformation remain a mystery, but Ugaki expressed excitement while remaining tight-lipped about the details.
Voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita), adding another layer of intrigue. Akiyama himself hinted at a memorable recording experience, mentioning an aquarium and "a lot of beautiful women," potentially referring to the "Minato Ward girls" who will appear both in live-action and CG form. These women were cast earlier this year through auditions, showcasing their passion for the series.
For more on the auditions, please see our related article.
