While Fable, Starfield, and Avowed, all stole the show at the recently concluded Xbox Games Showcase, JRPG fans received a glimpse of the future of the Like a Dragon series with a new trailer and name for the franchise’s upcoming entry.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase, teases another exhilarating adventure from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The game’s latest installment is setting its stage on what many presume is the gorgeous and diverse island of Honolulu, Hawaii – a drastic leap from the familiar urban sprawl of Tokyo’s Kamurocho district, the game’s traditional setting.
This latest Yakuza entry brings back the loveable protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, who, in the game’s trailer, wakes up on the beach, disoriented and naked. This comical and intriguing setup is an auspicious nod to the game’s departure from Japan, signalling a humorous fish-out-of-water storyline that fans are eagerly anticipating.
The still-unconfirmed setting, with its bustling streets and vibrant atmosphere, offers an excitingly fresh canvas for RGG to paint upon. Yakuza games have always been about exploring densely populated cities on foot.
This setting, seemingly right next to Waikiki Beach – one of the world’s most scenic beaches – offers an appealing twist, possibly introducing new beach-related mechanics and mini-games, from volleyball to surfing, with a splash of karaoke and delightful local cuisine thrown in for good measure.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has built a reputation for embedding rich, cultural contexts into the game’s environments. The island city of Honolulu’s heavy Japanese influence, seen in local food halls such as Stix Asia and the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, lends itself perfectly to maintaining the essence of Yakuza, even as it steps onto foreign soil.
Not to mention, the architecture of Honolulu, with its densely packed buildings and focus on tourism, is a ripe playground for the open-world exploration that Yakuza fans love. Players can expect an exciting array of shops, restaurants, and more attractions that they can think of to explore, likely packed into a sectioned-off area of the city – in line with the design of previous installments.
Finally, the proximity of Pearl Harbor offers potential for intriguing narrative elements. The history-rich navy base could be the backdrop for intense dungeons teeming with foes to fight, a staple feature in the Yakuza series.
The announcement of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth isn’t just a departure from Japan, but it’s also a change in the naming convention. This eighth main entry marks the official adoption of the Japanese series name, ‘Like a Dragon’, in lieu of the western ‘Yakuza’ moniker. This change coincides with the franchise’s shift to turn-based RPG gameplay, introduced with 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
The series’ executive producer, Masayoshi Yokoyama, explains that the renaming is an acknowledgment of evolving themes, which could be perceived differently by Eastern and Western fans. The concept of infinity, as hinted in the title, plays a role in the game’s story – a narrative thread that players can explore come early 2024.
However, the series’ newest spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, is coming out on November 9.
