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

Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure unlike any other! The latest installment in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, promises a significantly larger and more ambitious experience than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden. Discover the details revealed at RGG SUMMIT 2024.

Majima's Pirate Pursuit in 2025

A Bigger, Bolder Hawaiian Escape

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to be a massive leap forward. RGG Studio President Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed at RGG SUMMIT 2024 that the game's world and story will be 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a minor expansion; it's a completely different scale of adventure.

Yokoyama hinted at the game's expansive scope in an interview with Famitsu: "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself," he teased. "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."

Expect a wealth of content beyond the expanded world. From the series' signature brawling combat to the quirky side activities and mini-games, Pirate Yakuza is brimming with things to do. Yokoyama even suggested the traditional understanding of "Gaiden" as a spin-off is changing, stating that the concept is "gradually disappearing." This suggests a fully-fledged experience comparable to mainline entries.

The Hawaiian islands provide a unique setting, a departure even from Like a Dragon Gaiden. The charismatic Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, is at the heart of this nautical escapade, mysteriously finding himself a pirate. While the specifics remain shrouded in secrecy, Ugaki expressed his excitement, though remaining tight-lipped about the details.

"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 shared. "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."

Voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) even teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita), adding a layer of intrigue. Akiyama himself offered a cryptic clue: "there was one interesting recording scene, and when I went to the toilet to relieve myself, there was an aquarium in front of me with a clownfish in it… Also, there were really a lot of beautiful women at the recording… It’s not a love reality show, but with a scene like that, there’s an excitement that makes you mistakenly think you’re popular."

These "beautiful women" might be the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear both in live-action and CG form. Ryosuke Horii shared that the auditions for these roles were a success, highlighting the enthusiasm of the participants.

For more on the auditions, check out our related article!