Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have unveiled the latest installment in the Like a Dragon series, featuring the beloved Yakuza character Goro Majima as the protagonist. In Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Majima, suffering from amnesia, reinvents himself as a pirate captain on a quest for a legendary treasure. This adventure will pit him against Hawaiian pirate gangs.
The initial trailer provides a glimpse of the game's cast and the actors behind them, along with a release date set for February 28, 2025. During the RGG Summit, producer Ryosuke Horii detailed that this spin-off boasts a battle system markedly different from the recent mainline games, which utilize a turn-based RPG format. Horii emphasized, 'It's fast-paced, and it has a lot of Majima's uniqueness, that’s what we aimed for.' Majima will employ two distinct fighting styles—Mad Dog and Sea Dog—combining his signature Yakuza combat techniques with a pirate-themed weapons system.
Moreover, Majima will engage in various minigames, a tradition that has become synonymous with the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises. Fans have been treated to a plethora of content recently, as RGG Studio has consistently released multiple games since 2020. This includes two mainline entries, a remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin, and the spin-off Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. The most recent addition, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, launched in January and follows series protagonist Kasuga Ichiban as he teams up with Kazuma Kiryu to navigate Hawaii, uncover a significant conspiracy, and engage in intense battles.
Michael Higham, in his GameSpot review of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, praised the game, stating, 'It's the best of both Yakuza worlds coming together for a story about life, legacy, and the daunting realities of the world we live in—but, more than anything, atonement and the various forms it can take. It also comes with greatly improved RPG systems that nail the tactical joy of turn-based combat while upholding Yakuza's identity in remarkable ways.'
