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. RGG Summit 2024 revealed exciting details about this highly anticipated title.
Majima's Hawaiian Hijinks Set Sail in 2025
A Bigger, Bolder Yakuza Experience
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to be a truly expansive experience. RGG Studio president Masayoshi Yokoyama stated 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 slight expansion; it's a massive leap in scale.
Yokoyama hinted at the game's impressive size 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 scale extends beyond the game world itself. 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 understanding of "Gaiden" as a mere spin-off is evolving, hinting that this title will be a fully realized experience comparable to mainline entries.
The game's Hawaiian setting provides a refreshing change of pace. Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. The circumstances of Majima's transformation remain shrouded in mystery, but 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."
Further intrigue was added by voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie), who teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama himself added to the mystery, recounting a memorable recording session with "beautiful women" and an unexpected aquarium encounter. This could potentially relate to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear both in live-action and CG form, following auditions held earlier this year. Ryosuke Horii noted the enthusiasm of the audition participants, many of whom were passionate fans of the series.
To learn more about the "Minato Girls" auditions, check out our related article!
