Do you own none of the (mainline) Yakuza games. Have you considered owning all of the (mainline) Yakuza games? Limited Run Games is re-releasing all the (mainline) Yakuza games from 0-6 in some fancy special editions. There is no suc??h thing as too much Kiryu.

I’m aware that the series didn’t end with Yakuza 6, but at that point, it began transitioning to the Like a Dragon nomenclature. It’s also weird to attach “classic�to Yakuza Kiwami, since it’s a remake of an older game. We could get technical here, but let’s focus on this sweet line-up of classic re-releases focused on the person who doesn’t own any part of the Yakuza series. If such a person exists.

Right now, only Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami are up for pre-order. The “Classic�editions of each come with character cards, an acrylic standee, the soundtrack on CD, and appropriate swag (pin for 0, more cards for Kiwami). It comes in a book-style hardcover box that matches the other games. Also, buying the Yakuza 0 Classic Edition will also net you a slipcase. It gapes open, ready to fit all seven classic editions. Don’t miss one or both your slipcase �and, by extension, your life �will forever r??emain with an empty hole in it.

This isn’t for me; I already own all those Yakuza games. Some of them are in Steelbook cases, and 3-5 are in that ??big honking compilation. Shelf space is already at a premium for me; do you understand how thicc a Genesis/Mega Drive case is? By the time you own 20 of them, you need a dedicated bookcase.

Want to get into the Yakuza series? This doesn’t seem like a bad way to do it. You can definitely get most of these games for cheaper at this point, but at $75 for the special editions it’s maybe not that bad. I can almost guarantee that it will be one of your new favs, and you’ll want to immortalize that love. Just trust me. They’re like 100 hours long, and half of that is just screwing around town and in arcades. Another big portion is ridiculously long cutscenes. It’s amazing. Just trust me.

Yakuza 0 Classic Edition and Yakuza Kiwami Classic Edition are available for pre-order now and expecte?d to ship in March. The other titles are forthcoming. 

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With a heavy heart and raspy sigh, I must report that the next Like a Dragon spinoff will not star reluctant protagonist Kiryu Kazuma fishing and fighting other fishermen in a game called Like a Dragon: Tuna. We were so close to greatness.

The Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio boss revealed the news in a recent interview with the PlayStation Blog. RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama was there to chat about the upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii but took a moment to discuss what could have been. Before the launch of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Yokoyama had an idea knocking around in his head in which Kiryu would become a tuna fisherman and "fight against fishing boats." The studio opted for Pirate Yakuza, which sees series goofball Goro Majima become a pirate ca?ptain instead.

"For quite some time, I wanted to make a game called Like a Dragon: Tuna, where Kazuma Kiryu, as a tuna fisherman, sets off?? to sea to fight again?st fishing boats," Yokoyama told the PlayStation Blog. "Long story short, it never came to fruition, but keywords like 'ship', 'sea', and 'fighting', which had since then been engraved in my head, evolved into the concept of pirates."

Someone is going to have to go to sea

The fever dream starring a fisherman-fighting Kiryu may be gone, but Pirate Yakuza will surely do its best to compensate. It stars Majima following the events of Infinite Wealth. Cast out to sea with no memory, Majima does what he does best and becomes a swashbuckling pirate �wi??th a ship and everything.

Pirate Yakuza (and, by extension, LaD: Tuna) is a hilarious idea for a spinoff, but it's arguably not the most bonkers game in the franchise. In 2011, RGG Studio decided to hop onto the then-zombie craze with Yakuza: Dead Souls. It was a non-canon spinoff shooter that starred several of the series' big shots as they struggled to survive a zomb??ie-ridden Kamurocho. It didn't receive the success to match its bombastic premise.

Regardless, it's good to see RGG be a bit silly with its spinoffs again. I'll mourn for the loss of LaD: Tuna, but Pirate Yakuza is already looking like an excellent replacement. It'll be the second spinoff game starring a series protagonist since the Kiryu-led LaD: The Man Who Erased His Name. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sails the high seas on February 27, 2025.

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I don’t know what’s real anymore. Sega and Ryu ga Gotoku Studio have announced that the next game in the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series will be Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The twist is that this one looks like some sort?? of fever dream where Majima becomes a p?irate.

To be fair, this isn’t the first time that the series has gone deep into left field. Yakuza Dead Souls had the cast fighting zombies, after all. And in order to keep development time and costs down, the company frequently reuses old settings in new ways. Perhaps the?y were mulling over what else they could do with their massive Hawaii map and somehow decided on? this.

The story shows Majima waking up on the beach of Rich Island with no memory of what happened. One thing leads to anot??her, and he just kind of beats up the right people and winds up with a pirate ship. He and his crew decide that they’re going to search for a legendary treasure, which I’m sure is what most people would do if they found themselves in possession of an antique warship. There is also a pirate city called “Madlantis,�so how awesome is that? The trailer is a whopping 7 minutes long and covers all the important parts.

There are parts of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii that seem familiar. For example, the bike courier mission from Infinite Wealth shows up in the trailer. The combat seems to be the classic real-time beat-’em-up style rather than the turn-bas?ed of the more recent core titl??es, and you can switch between “Mad Dog�and “Sea Dog�fighting styles.

I was wondering what ife at sea is like, and apparently, there are “exhilarating real-time cannon battles.�It sounds like you battle the enemy ship until it’s ready to board. The marketing information d?oes mention that you “explore the open sea,�but whether that’s a map system or actual ship steering isn’t entirely clear.

Yeah, didn’t see that coming, but I’m on board. Get it? Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 27, 2025. As Sega commonly does, there is a rather sizeable Deluxe Edition with included DLC available.

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I can’t say I normally pay close attention to the Computer Entertainment Developers Conference (CEDEC), but this year (as spotted by Twitter user gosokkyu), it is presenting the Engineering Division Award for Excellence to Hitoshi Iizawa for their very important work in arcade emulation. Not just any arcade emulat?ion, but emulation of the early 3D-era Sega Model 2 and Model 3 platforms.

In terms of game preservation, arcade games are a difficult area. Each game could be on its own hardware or hardware variation. While console emulation focuses on recreating the hardware in a way that can run its library of games, a lot of arcade games have to be approached individually. Add to that the fact that 3D game hardware is much harder to emulate, and it can be a struggle.

The emulation was done specifically to fill out the arcades in the games by Ryu ga Gotoku studios. Games in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon/Judgment series had full recreations of Sega’s old arcade titles, such as Fighting Vipers, Virtua Fighter 2, and Sega Bass Fishing. Not only are the?? games present, but the cabi?nets themselves (such as the Sega Blast City) are presented in painstaking detail.

The award states that it’s in recognition of Iizawa’s technical expertise, as well as for presenting the buried games for today’s players. His work in porting old arcade games goes back to the �0s where he worked on Sega Ages 2500: Virtua Fighter 2 and later helped port Daytona USA to PS3 and Xbox 360.

There has been some progress in emulating Model 2 and Model 3 games by fan communities. However, having an official means to play these games is always a plus. I would like to see som??e titles from these platforms make their way to storefronts, rather than being contained as games within a game. Hopefully, this work will eventually lead to that.

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Last month, Amazon revealed plans for a live-action Like a Dragon: Yakuza series on Prime Video. It's set t??o stream across six episodes starting on October 24, and we officially have our first look thanks to a new teaser trailer.

In addition to showing off some footage, the latest update on the series reveals the casting for Kiryu's sworn brother, Akira Nishikiyama. Kento Kaku—who previously played Shinji Sakamoto in the live-action Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku and Haru in House of Ninjas—has been cast in the role. 

The trailer is just over a minute long, and most of it is spent lingering on yakuza body art, but there are some pr?omising?? shots. The blink-and-you'll-miss-it glimpse of Kamurocho gate looks particularly spot-on, at least from what we can see.

As previously reported, Masaharu Take directs the live-action take on Like a Dragon. The series will be streamed worldwide and split into two parts. The first three episodes launch on October 24, and the second thre??e will follow a week later on November 1. Amazon will offer dubbed/subbed options in 30 languages, so a l??ot of folks out there are going to get to enjoy Kiryu's dramatic journey.

The story of the Like a Dragon show spans two time periods, set in 1995 and 2005. It follows the life of original series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, from his childhood friends to the repercussions of the decisions he makes as a member of the criminal underworld. Ryoma Takeuchi (Shinnosuke Tomari in Kamen Rider Drive) is in the lead as Kiryu. If they can at least squeeze in ??a few minigames in the process, we'll have a hit on our hands.  

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Today, Yakuza �or rather, Like a Dragon �is pretty well known far and wide as a series of exciting, corny, and hammed-up RPGs by Sega. But history could have been much different. Back when the series? was originally pitched, Sega "flat-out rejected?" it.

In an interview (via Automaton) with Like a Dragon series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, the former series head recalled the time Sega smacked the idea off the table like a curmudgeonly cat. Accordin??g to Nagoshi, Sega was desperately seeking new video game ideas with worldwide appeal.

"This led to a mindset? of making gam??es that would appeal to the masses, games that could sell anywhere and to anyone. Many producers, including myself, thought this way," Nagoshi said.

For anyone who has played a Like a Dragon game, or even loo?ked at a set of screenshots, can tell you that the saga of Kiryu Kazuma and friends ain't that. (Even if it should be.)

Like a Dragon came to be during a tumultuous time for Sega

Sega initially said no, and it's no surprise why. Like a Dragon, directly translated from its Japanese name of Ryu Ga Gotoku, wasn't strictly designed for Western audiences. The game took plac??e in a small part of Tokyo, rich with attractions and references that only those fluent in Japanese culture may understand or ??recognize. It starred a former member of a Japanese crime syndicate who chewed corny tough-guy lines while balancing his time with a conspiracy story, taking care of a puppy, playing pachinko, and getting toilet paper for a man stuck in a park bathroom.

The s??eries was, and still is, an eclectic?? blend of silliness and drama, but Sega didn't see the potential right away.

“Of course, it was flat-out rejected," Nagoshi explained. "After all, it was completely contrary to what I mentioned earlier about attracting the masses. Children wouldn’t be able to play it, and it wasn’t catered to women nor overseas audiences. In this sense, there was no way for it ??to be approved without resistance."

Nagoshi was persistent and, eventually, Sega relented. He said he was "quite forceful" in looking for approval. With Nagoshi always dressing like he crawled out of a Like a Dragon gam??e himself, I guess I'm not shocked that Sega ulti??mately saw things his way.

It's not like Sega was wrong from a business perspective, mind. Back in the early '00s when LAD was being pitched, Sega had already likely given up the Dreamcast and was reeling over Shenmue's disappointing sales figures. The latter was known as the most expensive game ever made �a title it held for many years. The absurd Like a Dragon must have been viewed as an exceptional??ly tough sell for outside Japan.

But Sega definitely tried. The publisher went so far as to fully dub the original game in English, while bringing in Mark Hamill to voice Goro Majima, a role he may not even remember taking.

Yakuza, as it was called when it finally came to the West, also didn't reach mainstream appeal for many years. The fourth mainline game in the series was nearly the last to cross the seas, as the Yakuza 5 localization almost didn't happen. Regardless, with Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the series is now firmly nestled into the zeitgeist on both the East and West. Nagoshi, however, has moved on and is making games for his new studio.

Fast-forward a couple decades and the latest game in the franchise is a smash hit for Sega. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth soared to 1 million sold within a week of its launch, outpacing the sales of its predecessors (and we loved it). The series, along with Persona and Sonic the Hedgehog, contributed to a 20% sales increase, Sega announc??ed this month. Let's be collectively glad the company eventually said yes.

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Sonic has been enjoying renewed popularity in recent years thanks to the two Sonic the Hedgehog movies that have become some of the highest-grossing video game adaptations. Sega hopes to capitalize?? on this by bringing more of its franchises to a non-gaming ?audience.

In an interview with CNBC, Sega's chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi revealed that the platforms they are considering include movies and even Roblox. The second Sonic movie grossed an impressive $405??.4 million, so it's no surprise that they hope to replicate this success with its other IPs.

IPs that are being considered include Like a Dragon (previously known as Yakuza). An adaption could be a hit, as it already has a huge follo?wing. As Sega reveals, the franchise has sold 21.1 mil??lion units.

Persona may also find itself on more platforms. It's easy to imagine it being adapted to a film series or even a television series, as the franchise already features gripping narratives and plenty of relations??hips and friendships to explore.

Sega denies acquisition rumors

There have been rumors that Microsoft is keen to purchase Sega, but Utsumi denies this. He explains that several companies are interested in acquiring Sega, and though it is an honor, he doesn't believe that "kind of transaction is? going to happen."

This doesn't mean that Sega isn't planning to make some acquisitions for itself. Utsumi claims the company is still looking for growth during a tim?e when Japanese studios are doing well while "Europ?ean studios are struggling" following the post-COVID-19 sales decline.

We've seen some of the effects of this through the seemingly endless waves of layoffs that have struc?k the industry. Utsumi remains optimistic, and he believes that the future is bright so long as "you have solid development studios and also solid IPs."

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Sympathy for the Underdog

We're still a few months away from seeing the eighth mainline entry in the Like a Dragon series. Fortunately, it won't be long before players meet Kazuma Kiryu again in the spinoff, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. That's right, Kiryu did such a thorough job erasing his name that he goes by the unsuspecting name of "Joryu". All the while, he'll find himself once again embroiled in threats, violence, and underworld intrigue. But those who manage to endure these trials will get treated to a Special Trial Version of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed this and much more in an overview trailer and developer update video, which doled out a deeper look at the spinoff's story and gameplay before moving onto the bonus goods. Of note to hardcore fans, the unlockable Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth demo will include scenes that aren't present in the main game. This won't be a problem for Like a Dragon completionists, but it's an interesting approach to demo presentation. Of course, we don't know how much content we'll see in the sample. 

Like a Dragon Gaiden catches up with the former series star after he faked his death and made himself scarce. Yokoyama says this entry will offer "the best insight into the personality of Kazuma Kiryu". Even though, of course, we all know his personality really only comes out on the dance floor. The other side of his personality awaits at the end of his fists and feet. The trailer reinforces this by highlighting the gadget-focused Agent Style combat alongside some old fashioned Yakuza street fighting. 

[caption id="attachment_397465" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Tokyo Drifter

It wouldn't be a Like a Dragon game without minigames to distract you from those battles without honor and humanity. Gaiden looks to get carried away with everything from arcade games to arena brawls, cabaret clubs with somewhat creepy live-action footage and, of course, karaoke. What's that? You made a time-sensitive threat against the orphans I devoted my life to back in Okinawa? Sorry, the night is young and I just got to the chorus of "Today is a Diamond." 

Mainstays like Goro Majima, Daigo Dojima and Taiga Saejima are on tap for the Coliseum battle arena and can join your team if you pre-order to get the Legendary Fighter Pack. They'll join Kiryu (sorry, I mean Joryu!) when Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on November 9, 2023. Meanwhile Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will launch sometime in early 2024. 

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Surf's not the only thing that's up. Hoo boy.

As part of the Xbox Games Showcase, Sega released a strange but fun trailer for Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, which is headed our way in early 2024.

The cheesecake video sees Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga washed up on the shores of what appears t??o be a ?Hawaiian beach, unfortunately lacking any clothing whatsoever. Cue a series of typical "Hide the Dick with Objects" jokes. Never gets old. This is clearly the best part of the showcase so far.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is cu???rrently in development and will launch early 2024.

/??/www.youtube.com/watch?v=3?Q1HRYrO1Gw&ab_channel=Xbox

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Tune in for updates on the Like a Dragon series

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is ready to share more info on its upcoming slate of games. The Like a Dragon developer has announced it will be hosting a new studio show, t??he RGG Summit Summer 2023, on June 15.

The show will go live at 8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET on June 15, on both the Sega YouTube and Twitch channels. No word yet on how long the strea?m will be.

//twitter.com/R??GGStudio/status/1662792394733961217

As for what they'll have in store, it sounds like a few updates. Via a press release, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio plans on sharing updates about upcoming titles, as well as c?ommunity efforts and developer discussions.

The future of Like a Dragon

We already have some inkling of what's in store for the Like a Dragon series, or Yakuza as those in the west previously knew it. Last year, RGG Studio confirmed that Like a Dragon 8 is in development, wi??th a 2024 target. Both Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban K?asuga are set to play leading roles in the game, too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJhqN7R_oAg

Meanwhile, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name looks to be a side-story telling the story of what happened to Kiryu in-between the past games and new. While he made an appearance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Like a Dragon 7)?, there are still some gaps to fill between the end of the sixth game and the upcoming eighth entry.? It's currently aiming for a 2023 launch, too.

We also got the remaster of Like a Dragon: Ishin! earlier this year, a solid historical brawler that finally brought the tale to the west. There's certainly some games for RGG to show off at this showcase, amid all the hubbub of June's gaming new?s. W??e'll see what RGG is planning for the future on June 15.

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Charting a history of dramatic shirt-off moments

There are few moments as blood-pumpingly dramatic in a Yakuza/Like a Dragon game as when someone rips their shirt off and unvei?ls their tattoos. It is the peak of a fight, often reserved for special showdowns or the height of the story's arc.

Sega—for a reason I can't really discern at this moment—recently posted a compilation celebrating just that: the epic back tattoo reveal moments of Ryu Ga Gotoku's Like a Dragon series. From the original Yakuza games up through Like a Dragon, there are many. And they're all spectacular.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joowq-IM6PA

Of course, we see many of the usual suspects here:? Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, Taiga Saejima, and newcomer Ichiban Kasuga. Plenty of villains too, including Akira Nishikiyama and one of my favorites, Daisaku Kuze. All of them baring their incredibly detailed and gorgeous back tattoos.

Art in motion

Part of my motivation for writing about this was just the strangeness of Sega posting this on a seemingly random Friday, as if someone was bored and chopping together footage that someone, somewhere, gave it a green light. Maybe it's sowing some groundswell. Like a Dragon: Ishin! just came out, but there are still a few modern Like a Dragon games in the works, too. That's just my red-strings-on-corkboard theory, though it c?ould just as easily be a fun video to fire off on a Frid?ay.

But even more than that, I just love highlighting what I think is an excellent character development tool for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The tattoos these characters bear often reflect who they are as a person: their values, their drives, and their ambitions. Nishikiyama's koi tattoo is a beautiful foil to Kiryu's dragon. And when Kiryu shows his tattoo in Yakuza 0, it's stenciled and uncolored; he is still becoming the Dragon we see him as in later games. Kotaku ran a feature around the release of Yakuza 0, delving into this and more around the imag?ery used for these t??attoos.

So yes, it's not just a blood-pumping moment of hype, but these art pieces also add fantastic touches of character work to the memorable cast Yakuza and Like a Dragon has ha??d over the years. So yes, we will take some time to ??celebrate that today.

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Wakarimashita

The fan group Team K4L have announced that their translation of Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinshou will be released this August. Initially, they had hoped ??to release it last year, but unfor?tunately had to delay it.

Sega has come a long way when it comes to localizing their Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, so we’ve been eating well. Like a Dragon: Ishin! was once argued by Sega as being a poor choice for localization, but despite that, we just recently finally got it over here. However, in a recent interview with The Gamer chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto said of Kurohyou, “I think if we wanted to develop something, we're not really looking at the past, we're looking to the future, and we think that we want to put our efforts and our priorities ????at making new titles for Like a Dragon.�That’s not a “no, definitely not,�but it’s not looking good, so it’s always great to see fans step in to bring a title to a wider audience.

[embed]//youtu.be/dkkGKxAhNr0[/embed]

Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinsho is a 2010 spin-off of the series for PSP. Rather than an attempt to simply transplant the Like a Dragon/Yakuza formula to the portable, Sega enlisted AKI Corporation (now known as syn Sophia) to put their own spin on it. AKI should be a familiar name to anyone who played N64 wrestling games, as they’re the developers behind WCW/NWO Revenge and WWF No Mercy. Thes?e titles, as well as the others they put out on the console, are still regarded as some of the best pro wrestling game??s ever released.

The gameplay focuses more on one-on-one combat, but the narrative features the familiar neighborhood of Kamurocho and is packed with mini-games and side quests. Combat is modeled closer to Def Jam Fight for NY, rather than the more beat-’em-up brawling of your typical Yakuza/Like a Dragon game.

K4L will be releasing the translation patch this August under the name Kurohyou (Like a Dragon: Black Panther).

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A small slice of Ryoma's swordplay

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is not far off from launch. But if the wait's just a bit too long, there's a demo for Ishin out today so you can get a taste of the new-ol??d combat.

The "Combat Demo" is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The two-part combat demo covers a roughly 20-minute section of the game, specifically spotlighting the combat of Like a Dragon: Ishin, w??hich sees Ryoma bringing his sword, gun, and fists to bear against foes.

The slice of Ishin covers both a brawl at Kiyomizu temple and a face-off with some armored foes. This demo looks to spotlight not just the figh?ting, but what enemies are bringing to the table to try and stop Ryoma. If he's anything like his supposed descendant, though, there's not much that can.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqkDNGqWrvE

Sega and RGG Studio have also revealed a special "Dragon of Dojima" skin, that will make Sakamoto Ryoma look just like Kazuma Kiryu, suit and all.

Heading back to an older era

Ishin is a remake of the earlier entry in the series, one which we never saw ported over to the west. It's historical fiction, using the likenesses of many Like a Dragon series characters, but with different names, playing figures from the time in dramatized versions of the ev?ents.

Still, just because Kiryu is actually Ryoma, doesn't mean there isn't some classic Like a Dragon to get up to. Alongside the brawling you can see in the Ishin combat demo, there's also the usual substories and side-games you'd expect from the series. Plus, an Another Life section where Ryoma can live it up as a peaceful farmer. What's not to like about a slice of farming life inside this classically action-heavy series?

Like a Dragon: Ishin! goes li??ve on Feburary 17? for Deluxe Digital pre-orders, and on February 21 for every other version.

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The Dragon of Dojima steps back in time

Sega and Ryu ga Gotoku Studio are currently gearing up for the launch of Like a Dragon: Ishin! A full remake of the 2014 spin-off title in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series of action-RPGS �And speaking of yesteryear, the studios announced that a special DLC skin is included in Ishin's Deluxe Edition, which sees the return of the eponymous Like a Dragon protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu!

The "Dragon of Dojima" DLC will allow players to dress Ishin's hero like his centuries-later descendant, complete with his iconic silver-grey suit and snakeskin shoes. It should be n?oted that this is just an aesthetic skin, Sakamoto will not literally become Kazuma �But if you fancied turning the attractive, period-piece world of Edo Japan into an absolutely dreadful anachronism, then you're sorted.

In this short trailer, y??ou can see Sakamoto looking sl??ick as he gets his ears cleaned out.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqkD??NGqWrvE&ab_cha??nnel=SEGA

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a full remake of the 2014 PS3 release of the same name, and follows the adventures of Ryoma Sakamoto, who becomes embroiled in a local war of houses while investigating the murder of his sensei. Like a Dragon: Ishin! continues the hard-boiled drama, violent action, and a little of the tongue-in-cheek nature that is the trademark of the Like a Dragon series, but never saw the light of ??day outside of Japan, with Sega concerned that the game's setting and characters might not localize well enough to warrant the effort .

One should remember that the series th?en was not the highly recognized brand that it has become today, specifica??lly since the launch of 2015's Yakuza 0, which was a huge hit on the PS4 platform.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! launches February 21 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox p??latform??s.

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Sheathe the sword and pick up the chef's knife

For as much as the Like a Dragon series has been about its over-the-top action and absurd comedic moments, it's also garnered a following for its mini-games. With that spirit in mind, Like a Dragon: Ishin! is highlighting its farming life mode in a new trailer.

In a mode called "Another Life," Ishin protagonist Ryoma leaves the violence for another day and instead tends to his quiet f??arm??. We see a host of different mini-games and activities here, centered around living off the land. There's harvesting crops, chopping up veggies and preparing meat through cooking, and yes, even pets.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJ_dc5gv-k

It's something s??pecial seeing a dog do a backflip. This side story seems to be bringing a heaping pile of peaceful slice-of-life warmth to the table, and I do enjoy that.

Farming like a dragon

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is the updated version of its historical fiction predecessor, which takes the cast of the Like a Dragon series and has them play out a story in a real, historical setting. Longtime series protagonist Kazuma Kiry??u stars as Ryoma, and other ??characters from the series are set to appear as well.

Ishin is one of the Like a Dragon entries that hadn't arrived in the West yet. An official launch on modern consoles makes this a bit easier to get a hold of and play. Plus, now U.S. players can experience the joy of tending to a farm in 1860s Japan. Of co??urse, there will still be fighting, intrigue, and plenty of drama. I?t's nice to have options, though.

If the quiet life appeals to you, you won't need to wait long to experience it either. Like a Dragon: Ishin! arrives for PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S??,?? Xbox One, and PC on February 21, 2023.

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A little less forgiving than his ancestors

Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has released an action-packed trailer for its upcoming remake Like a Dragon: Ishin! spotlighting hero Sakam?oto Ryoma as t??hey embark upon a claret-spewing quest of honor and violence, set against the backdrop of 17th-century Japan. It looks to be a pretty brutal affair.

The Like a Dragon: Ishin! trailer focuses specifically on the remaster's combat mechanics, and sees our stoic protagonists engage with an army of samurai, ninja, and mercenary soldiers �utilizing several different fighting styles that all lead to the same result: a lot of blood and a lot of bodies. W??e see Sakamoto demonstrate four arts in all �Swordsman, Gunman, Wild Dancer, and Brawler �as he battles his way past insurmountable odds on his mission of vengeance. Sakamoto's wrath sees him lay waste to the opposition with fists, feet, cold steel, hot lead, and even a combination of all four simultaneously!

His enemies best just stay home today.

//youtu.be/LQhLakRCEvQ

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a long, long, long-awaited localization of the 2014 PS3 release Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! brought up to speed with the power of Unreal Engine 4. Ishin! concerns the events of ronin Sakamoto Ryoma, an ancient ancestor of Like a Dragon protagonist Kaz?uma Kiryu, as they search for the killer of the father in th??e Bakamatsu age of Japan's Edo era. While it has been an exceptionally long wait for series fans, this remake looks set to deliver, freshly repainted and given a serious gameplay boost.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! launc?hes on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platfo?rms on February 23.

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Throw open the doors and make some cash

One of the better mini-games from the Yakuza series is making its return. Upcoming Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will have a cabaret mini-game.

The Like a Dragon, née Yakuza, series has had a wealth of minigames over the years. But few are as well-remembered as the cabaret ones. First making an appearance in Yakuza 0 and then again in Kiwami 2, these sections hav?e you manage a club of ??hostesses.

Unlocking new hostesses through quests and scouting, while also competing with other clubs, became quite an engrossing side activity. And now it looks like the festivities return for Like a Dragon Gaiden.

//twit??ter.com/RGGStudio/status/1597301578675130368

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name follows longtime series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, after the events of Yakuza 6. The Dragon of Dojima stepped down from the spotlight in the sixth entry as Ichiban Kasuga took over in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. (Kiryu did make an appear??ance in that entry, but didn't star.)

Gaiden looks to bridge the gap a bit, as Like a Dragon 8 will have both Ichiban and Kiryu in the lead. And from the looks of it, Kiryu has been ??going through some stu??ff.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxkn-dcy01k

A year of dragons

It looks like we've got a decent amount of RGG content on its way, as the studio is also due to release Like a Dragon: Ishin next February. With Gaiden also set for 2023 and Like a Dragon 8 aiming for 2024, there's ??a lot of Kiryu in store for the next year or so.

All that said, I'm happy to see the cabaret game returning. It's fondly remembered for a reason, and will hopefully add an extra bit of mini-game oomph to Gaiden. As much as I liked holding meetings in Like a Dragon, I'm ready to manage the club again.

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What's in a name?

Last week was a biggie for Yakuza fans, as Sega and RGG Studio bombarded the community with exciting news pertaining to not only new titles in the dramatic RPG series, but also revealed some long-awaited news on the lost-in-translation side series, Yakuza: Ishin!.. erm... Like a Dragon: Ishin!

You see, as part of this cavalcade of series news, Sega also announced that it is officially adopting the "Like a Dragon" branding (a closer approximation of their original Japanese title: Ryu ga Gotoku), for all Like a Dragon/Yakuza releases going forward. No more titles set within the Yakuza universe will be afforded the "Yakuza" name in any of their English localizations.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJhqN7R_oAg

The first game to sport the Like a Dragon title in the west was 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which chose the new name in order to help distinguish it from the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu that had come before. However, with Sega's official appropriation of the original title, this release will now be the final game to bear the "Yakuza" name. Appropriately, ??the name change also comes at a time when RGG Studio itself is entering a new era, following the departure of series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi.

For those who missed last week's headlines, Sega and RGG Studio announced a long-awaited western remake of 2014 period adventure Like a Dragon: Ishin! which is looking pretty fabulous. In addition, the developers dropped a teaser trailer for Like a Dragon 8, which will see Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga team up as dual protagonists. A side-story Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, will depict the event??s that forced Kiryu to return to the streets of Kamurocho.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_z9hyFY1I

It took the Like a Dragon franchise a very long time to establish itself in the mainstream, and now it seems that there is no going back. So knuckle up, folks, there are still plenty more bicy??cles to smash.

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The streets of Kamurocho are about to get messy

During this morning's RGG Studio live stream presentation, the developer released a teaser trailer confirming the arrival of Like a Dragon 8, the newest entry in the legendary Like a Dragon/Yakuza franchise. The new sequel will arrive in 2024 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.

The new sequel will feature both Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga in a dual protagonist role. The former is sporting a new "silver fox" ?hairstyle, which RGG Studio insists will be explained in the new game's storyline, as will the snakeskin-shoed hero's reason for returning to the mean streets of Kamurocho.

Gameplay style was not discussed, outside of referring to Like a Dragon 8 as an "RPG." The new title will be the largest scale Yakuza/Like a Dragon title to date. It will be available on previous-gen consoles, including PS4 and Xbox One. Also revealed during the showcase were a release date for Like a Dragon: Ishin and new side-story adventure Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJhqN7R_oAg

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