"Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Elevates Comedic Macho to New Heights"

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii promises a unique blend of serious drama and comedic flair, according to developer RGG Studio. Dive in to discover what awaits in this exciting new game!

Featuring "Serious" Majima

But There’ll Still Be Goofing Off

The latest addition to the beloved Like a Dragon series is set to push the boundaries of reality to new heights, while maintaining a "manly drama" at its core, as revealed by RGG Studio in an interview with Automaton Media.

While the series is renowned for its humor and light-hearted moments, with Majima often cited as one of its most amusing characters, RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama emphasized that this iteration of Majima will adopt a "more serious" demeanor, particularly at the start of the narrative.

Ryosuke Horii, producer of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, elaborated on Yokoyama's statement, highlighting the "manly drama" that forms the heart of the game. It showcases Majima's fervent pursuit of his goals and the meaningful relationships he builds along his extravagant journey. "The goofing off isn’t the main point – there’s a manly drama at the center of things. 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 further explained that Majima possesses a unique essence that sets him apart from the series' longtime 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 strike the perfect balance between realism and extravagance, ensuring that the gameplay remains exciting and dynamic while grounding the narrative in serious and compelling drama.

Majima Maji Festival In Japan

To celebrate the upcoming release of the game, RGG Studio is hosting a special themed event, Majima’s Maji Festival, across six cities in Japan. The event kicked off on December 1, 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 the specified dates, don't miss out on the fun!

The newest installment of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza franchise, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features the iconic character "The Mad Dog of Shimano," Goro Majima, as the protagonist. With its thrilling action-packed combat system, captivating naval battles, vibrant characters, and a heartfelt story, it promises an unparalleled modern-day pirate adventure.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One on February 21st.