Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Will Take Comedic Manliness to Another Level

RGG Studio's latest addition to the beloved Like a Dragon series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, is poised to blend serious drama with the franchise's signature comedic flair. Dive into what this exciting game has in store!

Featuring "Serious" Majima

In an interview with Automaton Media, RGG Studio announced that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will stretch the boundaries of reality while maintaining a core of "manly drama." Despite the series' reputation for humor, particularly with Majima's often hilarious antics, director Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed that this iteration of Majima will adopt a more "serious" tone, especially at the beginning of the narrative.

Producer Ryosuke Horii elaborated on Yokoyama's comments, highlighting the "manly drama" at the heart of the game. This drama centers on Majima's passionate pursuit of his goals and the deep bonds he forms during his extravagant journey. "The goofing off isn’t the main point – there’s a manly drama at the center of things," Horii stated. "Of course, there are some crazy parts to take detours to, but overall, I think it’s a straightforward tale about a passionate man."

Horii also emphasized Majima's unique qualities, which differentiate him from the long-time protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. As translated by Automaton, "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 game aims to achieve a perfect balance of realism and extravagance, ensuring it remains engaging and not dull. The development team's goal was to make the gameplay "wilder" while keeping the drama serious and impactful.

Majima Maji Festival In Japan

To celebrate the upcoming release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, RGG Studio is hosting a special event, Majima’s Maji Festival, in six cities across Japan. The festival kicked off on December 1st, 2024, in Sapporo and is set to conclude with stops in Nagoya on January 18th and Tokyo on January 25th. If you're in either of these cities on those dates, don't miss out on the fun!

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings back the iconic character Goro Majima, known as "The Mad Dog of Shimano," as the protagonist. This installment promises a thrilling modern-day pirate adventure with an action-packed combat system, exhilarating naval battles, a vibrant cast, and a compelling story.

The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One starting February 21st.