Sega just announced new games were underway in the Yakuza franchise. The Japanese gaming giant revealed a trailer for the series’ next mainline instalment during a live stream hosted by developer Ryū ga Gotoku Studio, alongside a trailer showcasing a spin-off entry.
Nearly two decades after its first game, the Yakuza series is still alive and kicking. Only fans may come to know it under a different name from now on. As made official by Sega, the next entry will be titled Like a Dragon 8. In Japan, the franchise was already known as Ryū ga Gotoku, which directly translates into “Like a Dragon.” A nod to the Japanese title made it to the cover of the series’ seventh instalment, albeit as a subtitle. But it took another game for the publisher to drop the Yakuza name altogether.
The one-minute official announcement trailer might have left avid fans begging for more. It delivered precious information still. Featuring two shadowy silhouettes walking up a neon-clad alley, the brief clip confirmed that Like a Dragon 8 would feature dual protagonists. Introduced in Yakuza 7, Ichiban Kasuga will be a playable protagonist once more. But a well-known figure is also set on making a comeback. Much to fans’ delight, the trailer heralded the return of series icon Kazuma Kiryu. While the cult reformed mobster was the focus of dozens of games, his last playable appearance dated back to 2016.
In a similar dynamic to Kiryu and Goro Majima in the series’ prequel Yakuza 0, both protagonists will share the spotlight. And the actors Takaya Kuroda and Kazuhiro Nakaya will once again lend their voices to the fan-favourite characters. During a follow-up Q&A, producer Masayoshi Yokoyama stated the scale of the game would be “the largest to date.” The eighth entry in the series will bring back familiar gameplay mechanics and hit consoles and PC sometime in 2024.
In the meantime, hardcore fans may dive into a Kiryu-focused story by 2023. Sega simultaneously announced a spin-off titled Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. The game intends to fill in some narrative gaps and explain what Kiryu has been up to between the sixth and seventh instalments. This spin-off will also see the return of the older style of action-based combat. Yokoyama further indicated the game would span half the length of a regular mainline entry.
And there is more good news coming for fans of the franchise. Earlier this week, Sega stunned gamers with the surprise localisation of Like a Dragon: Ishin. This series of historical spin-offs had never seen the light of day outside of Japan so far. Yet, worldwide gamers may soon get their hands on this remastered yakuza meets samurai game. Ishin is an action-adventure thriller set in a fictional version of Kyoto during the first year of the Meiji restoration. Players will follow the journey of samurai Sakamoto Ryoma as he sets on overthrowing the shogunate.
More spin-offs have been Japan-exclusive, considering the somewhat lacklustre reception for the franchise outside its primary market upon its debut. But the tide might turn as recent entries have had resounding success across the globe. Reviews of 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon have been overwhelmingly positive. The series reached 14 million sales across all platforms in the same year.
The colourful cast and engaging storyline explain much of the franchise’s appeal. But even more, fans enjoyed its open world in the likeness of real-life Japanese red-light districts, from Tokyo and Osaka to Naha. Players also lauded the endless array of fun mini-games, from old-school arcades to karaoke booths and table games, which had their craving for some real deal at the casino.
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So, will you go all-in on the next entry in the Like a Dragon franchise? The new adventures of Kiryu and Ichiban are just around the corner.
