A new “Like a Dragon” title is on the horizon on consoles and PC, taking a turn for the unexpected as this spin-off, due for global release on February 28 next year, will star a fan-favorite character as an amnesiac pirate captain.
The last few years have been a wild ride for “Like A Dragon” fans. Formerly known as Yakuza outside of Japan, the franchise has gone through an international renaissance since the soft reboot of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which introduced a new protagonist and served as an entry point for newcomers to the series. Since then, fans have had plenty of content to relish with the self-contained story of Like a Dragon Gaiden and the surprise localization of the samurai tale of Like a Dragon Ishin!, which both came out in 2023.
Early in 2024, the massive success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth confirmed that the series had finally hit it big time and achieved mainstream recognition. Venturing outside of its home Japanese turf for the first time, this Hawaiian adventure united critics and gamers in praise for its colossal scope and engaging side content, which managed not to undermine but only elevate its poignant passing-of-the-torch story. A strong GOTY frontrunner in the eyes of many famers, the ninth mainline entry in the franchise became its fastest-selling title to date, with 1 million copies sold within its very first week. And Ryu Ga Gotoku is hell-bent on riding this wave of success, as the studio formally revealed the upcoming launch of a brand-new spin-off during its latest RGG Summit event.
Set about a year after the events of Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will guest-star charismatic antagonist Goro Majima as its lead character. A recurring foe introduced in the very first Yakuza installment, The Mad Dog of Shimano takes center stage in the announcement trailer disclosed by SEGA, which sees him stranded ashore on a beach only to be awoken by a child and his pet tiger. Suffering from memory loss, this series regular will swiftly get it together – and become a bona fide pirate captain himself.
This pirate-themed spin-off seemingly embraces its wacky buccaneer spirit rather unapologetically. Gameplay-wise, players will follow Majima as he assembles his crew and upgrades his ship to take on enemy vessels. Ever the ferocious combatant, this budding pirate can also switch between two distinct fighting styles. The Mad Dog option will center around “speed, agility, and flair” while the Sea Dog persona will focus around wielding swords and other “pirate tools.”
This swashbuckling adventure is set to stray from the franchise’s standard urban focus, as its seafaring arc will see players explore neighboring isles aboard their sailing ship. Beyond the main Rich Island, the island of Madlantis will be at the heart of Majima’s journey, hosting several criminal syndicates. Series staples like gambling halls might return on one of these seedy pirate isles, although the inclusion of casino minigames is up for speculation at this juncture.
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SEGA’s gangster series is no stranger to goofiness and outlandish premises – one aspect this surprise spin-off welcomes with open arms. Funnily enough, massive leaks popped up on 4chan in May 2024, now confirmed to have been accurate down to a great many details. Back then, the fandom wrote these rumors off as too wild and unserious. Incidentally, most fans never predicted that a spin-off would be on its way barely a year after Infinite Wealth dropped, marking the sixth Like a Dragon installation in six years.
In an era where sequels can remain under development for half a decade, prominent voices in the industry like Baldur’s Gate 3 publisher director Michael Douse have lauded this quick turnaround, calling it “genius shit”. Besides, this Majima-centric spin-off is bound to deliver in the content department, taking 1.5 times longer to beat than Like a Dragon Gaiden. With a Like a Dragon TV show premiering shortly on Prime Video, SEGA is definitely building on the series’ hype and then some.
