Prepare for a Yakuza adventure unlike any other! Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to be significantly larger than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. RGG Studio revealed at RGG SUMMIT 2024 that the new game boasts a story and world approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times the size.
Pirate Majima Sets Sail in 2025
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii: Bigger, Bolder, and More Absurd
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is setting sail for even more outlandish territory. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be a massive leap forward. RGG Studio president Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed the game's scope during RGG SUMMIT 2024, emphasizing that it's not just an expansion, but a completely new scale of adventure.
"We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself," Yokoyama revealed in a Famitsu interview, "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]."
This increased size translates to a wealth of content. Expect the series' signature brawling combat, alongside a plethora of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama hinted at a shift in the "Gaiden" concept, suggesting it's moving beyond a simple spin-off to become a fully-fledged experience comparable to mainline entries. "The traditional notion of 'Gaiden' being a 'spin-off' or 'side story' is gradually disappearing from us," he explained.
The Hawaiian setting promises a significant change of pace. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. Awakening on a Hawaiian beach, Majima somehow finds himself embroiled in a pirate life. The specifics remain shrouded in mystery, but Ugaki expressed excitement while remaining tight-lipped: "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."
Adding to the intrigue, Summer Uika (voice of Noah Ritchie) and Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita) offered intriguing teases. Akiyama hinted at a live-action scene and a memorable recording experience, mentioning an aquarium and "a lot of beautiful women" on set, jokingly suggesting a mistaken impression of popularity. These "beautiful women" likely refer to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form. Ryosuke Horii shared that the auditions for these roles were a success, highlighting the applicants' passion for the series.
For more details on the auditions, check out our related article!
