"Pirate Yakuza: Escalating Comedic Manliness"

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to blend serious drama with its trademark comedic flair, according to developer RGG Studio. Dive into what this exciting new game has in store!

Featuring "Serious" Majima

The latest addition to the beloved Like a Dragon series is set to stretch the limits of reality while delivering a compelling "manly drama" storyline, as shared by RGG Studio in an interview with Automaton Media.

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

Ryosuke Horii, the producer of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, expanded on Yokoyama's comments, highlighting the "manly drama" at the heart of the game. It showcases Majima's fervent journey towards his goals and the meaningful relationships he forms along the way. "The goofing off isn't the main focus – at the core is a manly drama. Yes, there are some wild detours, but overall, it's a straightforward tale of a passionate man," Horii explained.

Horii also pointed out that Majima brings a unique quality to the series that even the long-time protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, cannot match. As translated by Automaton, "If we didn't leverage that uniqueness, there would be no point in having Majima as the lead. That's why we've pushed the boundaries of reality more than we would with Kiryu, aiming to offer players a rich variety of action. I wanted to find the perfect balance between the pirate elements, Majima's essence, and the 'Ryu ga Gotoku' spirit, which was quite challenging."

The game is poised to deliver an optimal mix of realism and extravagance, with the team ensuring the gameplay is "wilder" while maintaining a serious and compelling drama.

Majima Maji Festival In Japan

To celebrate the upcoming release, RGG Studio is hosting a special event, the Majima’s Maji Festival, across six cities in Japan. It kicked off on December 1st, 2024, in Sapporo, and is nearing its conclusion with stops in Nagoya on January 18th and Tokyo on January 25th. If you're in the area, don't miss out on the festivities!

The latest chapter in the Like a Dragon/Yakuza saga, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, casts the iconic "Mad Dog of Shimano," Goro Majima, as the protagonist. With its thrilling combat system, engaging naval battles, vibrant characters, and passionate narrative, it's set to offer a unique modern-day pirate adventure.

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