Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Will be Much Larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is set to expand significantly with the upcoming release, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which promises to be a much larger and more ambitious project than the previous spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Dive into the details shared by RGG Studio at the RGG SUMMIT 2024.

Pirate Majima Sets Sail in 2025

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Promises to be Bigger and Bolder

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is steering into uncharted waters with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, promising an adventure that's not only bigger but also bolder than its predecessors. At the RGG SUMMIT 2024, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's president, Masayoshi Yokoyama, revealed that the game's story and world will be approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

For fans who found The Man Who Erased His Name to be a compact experience, RGG Studio is set to exceed expectations with Pirate Yakuza. Yokoyama emphasized that this game is not merely an extension of the previous title but an entirely new scale of adventure.

"We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself," Yokoyama shared in an interview with Famitsu, translated via machine translation. "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 game's content is set to be expansive, featuring the series' signature brawling combat alongside a variety of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama hinted that the traditional concept of "Gaiden" as a "spin-off" or "side story" is evolving and "gradually disappearing from us." This suggests that Pirate Yakuza could be a fully-fledged experience, comparable to mainline entries in the series.

Set against the backdrop of the Hawaiian islands, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers a fresh setting and a new pace. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced by Hidenari Ugaki, takes the lead in this seafaring adventure. The story begins with Majima waking up on a Hawaiian shore, embarking on a journey to become a pirate. While the details of this transformation remain a mystery, Ugaki expressed excitement but remained tight-lipped about the specifics.

"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," Ugaki said. "I have a tendency to talk a lot about various things, but I’ve been told not to say anything, so I’m not completely satisfied yet."

First Summer Uika, who voices Noah Ritchie, teased that Ryuji Akiyama, who plays Masaru Fujita, will feature in a live-action scene. Akiyama hinted at an intriguing recording session, mentioning an aquarium with a clownfish and the presence of many beautiful women, possibly referring to the "Minato Ward girls." These characters will appear both in live-action and as CG in the game. In July, RGG Studio held auditions for "Minato Girls," and according to Ryosuke Horii, "I was glad that many of the people who appeared without knowing what kind of role they would play had a love for the series and a passion to work with us."

To delve deeper into the auditions and what they entail, check out our detailed article below!