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 Hawaiian Hijinks Arrive in 2025
A Grander Scale for Pirate Yakuza
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be a truly expansive title. RGG Studio president Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that the game's world and story will be approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a simple expansion; it's a complete shift in scale.
Yokoyama hinted at the game's vastness in an interview with Famitsu, stating, "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 increased size isn't just about map size. Expect a wealth of content, including the series' signature brawling combat, a plethora of quirky side activities, and numerous mini-games. Yokoyama suggested that the traditional "Gaiden" label as a mere spin-off is becoming obsolete, hinting that this title will rival mainline entries in scope and depth.
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 shrouded in mystery, Ugaki expressed his excitement, though he's been sworn to secrecy.
Ugaki 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."
Intriguing hints were also dropped by other cast members. First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie's voice actor) and Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita's actor) teased unique aspects of the game's production, including a live-action scene featuring Akiyama and a memorable recording experience. Akiyama's comments about "beautiful women" and a "love reality show" vibe might refer to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear both in live-action and CG form. These actresses were cast earlier this year, and according to Ryosuke Horii, their enthusiasm for the series was evident.
For more details on the auditions, please refer to our related article.
