We had the opportunity to interview key figures behind the highly anticipated Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii during Tokyo Game Show 2024. Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Chief Producer, and Ryosuke Horii, Game Director, shared fascinating insights into the development process, gameplay features, and the creative decisions that shaped this unique entry in the Like a Dragon series.

The Birth of a Pirate Yakuza and Gameplay 

The idea for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii emerged as a natural progression following the release of Yakuza 8 (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth). Sakamoto explained that the team wanted to explore Majima’s story in a fresh context. “After Yakuza 8 was released, I wanted to make the story of Majima, but how will he go on living in the context of these main stories?” Sakamoto pondered. This led to the creation of a Majima-centered narrative that parallels the structure of “Like A Dragon Gaiden,” which focused on Kiryu’s side story.

Interestingly, the game is not considered a spin-off but a continuation of the main story, albeit in a different time and location. Sakamoto emphasized, “First of all, it’s not a spin-off. It’s a continuation of the main story. It might be in a different time and location, but it is a continuation.”

The pirate theme was chosen for its novelty and its perfect fit with Majima’s character. Sakamoto elaborated, “There has been talk for a long time of creating a title with Majima as the protagonist, and in the process of thinking about what’s the most Majima-esque, the most Majima-like kind of game, and thinking what sort of elements can be combined with him in that way, in the context of Like A Dragon: Infinite that’s how we landed on this.”

Gameplay and Combat Styles

Horii shed light on the game’s combat system, which features two distinct styles: the Mad Dog style and the Sea Dog style. “There are two styles in this title,” Horii explained. “First of all, there’s the Mad Dog style, which is very much the most Majima-like style. It’s all about keeping what makes him unique and making sure that that is alive and well in the game.”

The Mad Dog style retains classic elements that fans associate with Majima, such as punching, kicking, and blade usage. In contrast, the Sea Dog style introduces new elements like dual-blade combat, offering a fresh take on Majima’s fighting repertoire. Horii added, “The sea dog style was developed with elements such as, for example, using two blades to kill someone and such, and that was how it was created.”

The game also introduces a crew management system and sea battles, though details remain under wraps. Sakamoto teased, “We can’t really reveal much at this stage, but a lot has gone into it and certainly, what you’re imagining we have definitely achieved.” This hints at an expansive and immersive pirate experience that goes beyond traditional Like a Dragon gameplay.

Customization and Visuals

An interesting departure from previous titles is the focus on ring customization for character buffs, rather than clothing items. Horii explained, “There is a coordination and outfit function in the game, and with that function you’ll be able to choose the kind of fashion that you want to wear, have your own style. For example, like jackets and such, and we thought having such items of clothing have buffs on them, for example, raising attack, raising defense, that would limit the ability to customize like that. So for that reason, everything with buffs such as that is just in rings.”

The game utilizes the latest engine, promising stunning visuals that blend the realism of Honolulu with fantastical pirate elements. Horii highlighted a particularly impactful scene: “Seeing the visuals of a pirate ship appearing in the real Honolulu in Hawaii, it’s a very shocking scene, or it leaves a great impression. That really represents the, that really goes to show how that mixing of fiction and reality in this title.”

Development Challenges and Innovations

The RGG Studio team faced several challenges in developing this unique title. Implementing pirate elements and creating enjoyable, thematic gameplay features were among the primary hurdles. Sakamoto noted, “In terms of challenges, there’s the introducing the pirate elements and ways of adding things that are that you can only have with a theme like that. That was certainly a challenge.”

However, the team’s experience and efficient workflow, including the use of AI for debugging, have helped streamline the development process. Sakamoto explained their approach: “We are often asked this, it boils down to good teamwork and making quick decisions, like make quick judgements and quick decisions, and good teamwork is what it boils down to and taking action quickly as well. We have a lot of experience built up now, so the workflow is really optimised now for efficiency.”

Sakamoto also hinted at the game’s length, stating it would be longer than “Like A Dragon Gaiden,” though exact playtime details weren’t provided. “I don’t know the exact time, but it will be longer than Like A Dragon Gaiden, so that’s a good thing,” he shared.

Looking Ahead

Both Sakamoto and Horii expressed excitement about the new directions this title is taking the series. They emphasized that while the pirate theme is unexpected, the game remains true to the Like a Dragon series’ core elements of drama and storytelling. Horii assured fans, “This title combines pirates and it has Majima as a protagonist. It’s a very unexpected title, but it is very much like a dragon title and it has the drama that you can expect from the series. So fans can certainly feel confident in playing the game and expecting to be satisfied with it.”

Sakamoto added that they plan to continue creating more approachable “Gaiden” style games in the future, hinting at an exciting roadmap for the franchise. “Because these Gaiden games are easy to play, they’re more approachable. And so we want to keep trying that out in the future,” he explained.

As our interview concluded, the developers left us with a message for the fans. Horii encouraged, “We’ve never made a pirate title before, so there are certainly plenty of challenges in the development process. But there’s certainly a lot of new gameplay elements to be expected. And moving forward, there will be new information coming out. So please look forward to that.”

With its blend of familiar elements and bold new directions, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is shaping up to be an intriguing addition to the series. As more information becomes available, fans have plenty to look forward to in Majima’s pirate-themed adventure.