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 upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to be significantly larger and more ambitious than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. RGG Studio's announcements at RGG SUMMIT 2024 revealed exciting details.

Majima's Hawaiian Hijinks Set Sail in 2025

A Bigger, Bolder Yakuza Experience

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be a truly epic adventure. RGG Studio president Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed the game's story and world will be a substantial 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't just a minor expansion; it's a game on a completely different scale.

Yokoyama hinted at the expansive nature of the game's setting 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]."

The sheer volume of content is equally impressive. Expect a massive amount of content, from the signature brawling combat to the series' renowned quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama even suggested the traditional "Gaiden" label as a smaller side story is evolving, stating it's "gradually disappearing from us," implying this will be a full-fledged experience comparable to mainline titles.

The Hawaiian setting provides a dramatic shift in atmosphere, even more so than Like a Dragon Gaiden. The charismatic Goro Majima, once again voiced by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. The details of Majima's transformation remain shrouded in mystery, but Ugaki's excitement is palpable.

"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."

Adding to the intrigue, voice actress First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama himself offered a cryptic hint: "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" may be the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form. Ryosuke Horii commented on the auditions held earlier this year: "I was glad that many of the people who appeared without knowing what kind of role they would play had a love for the series and a passion to work with us." For more details on the auditions, see our related article.