Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Sails to New Heights of Shenanigans

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii: A Blend of Manly Drama and Hilarious Chaos

RGG Studio promises a unique mix of serious storytelling and over-the-top comedy in their upcoming title, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This latest installment will push the boundaries of reality while delivering a compelling "manly drama," according to the developers.

A Serious Side to Majima

While the Like a Dragon series is renowned for its humor, particularly the comedic antics of Goro Majima, director Masayoshi Yokoyama reveals a "more serious" side to Majima in this iteration, especially at the story's outset.

Producer Ryosuke Horii elaborates, highlighting the "manly drama" at the heart of the game. He emphasizes Majima's passionate pursuit of his goals and the bonds he forges throughout his wild adventure. "The goofing off isn't the main point – there's a manly drama at the center of things. Of course, there are some crazy parts, but overall, it's a straightforward tale about a passionate man."

Horii points out Majima's unique qualities, differentiating him from series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. He explains the decision to blur the lines of reality more with Majima: "So, if we didn’t take proper advantage of that, there would be no point in having Majima as the main character. That’s why we blurred the lines of reality a little more than we would with Kiryu, hoping to offer players rich action that’s full of variety. … I wanted to strike a good balance between the pirate-ness, Majima-ness, and ‘Ryu ga Gotoku’-ness, so I think that was a difficult part."

The developers aimed for a perfect balance of realism and extravagance, ensuring the gameplay remains exciting and engaging, describing it as "wilder, while maintaining a serious and proper drama."

Majima's Maji Festival

To celebrate the game's launch, RGG Studio is hosting Majima's Maji Festival in six Japanese cities. The tour, which began in Sapporo on December 1st, 2024, concludes in Nagoya (January 18th) and Tokyo (January 25th).

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, starring the "Mad Dog of Shimano," promises an action-packed pirate adventure with thrilling naval combat, a vibrant cast, and a captivating story.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on February 21st for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.