We had the opportunity to interview Masayoshi Yokoyama, the Executive Director and Head/Chief Producer of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio of the highly anticipated entry in the Like a Dragon (also known as Yakuza) series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. As one of the key figures behind the iconic series, Yokoyama shared insights into the development process, character evolution, and the exciting new gameplay mechanics that players can expect in this latest installment.

Yokoyama’s Story Driven Approach

The interview revealed Yokoyama’s unwavering commitment to storytelling as the driving force behind development decisions. When conceptualizing new games, his process is remarkably straightforward: The moment I knew Majima’s going to Hawaii, lost his memory, and then became a pirate is something that I already thought of. I never discussed themes with other people.” This direct approach extends to his leadership: “Just that once I think of it, I call everyone and explain that stuff on the whiteboard, and that’s where we’re going.”

His story-first philosophy is also evident in how locations are chosen. Hawaii was introduced as the series’ first overseas location, but rather than following market trends, Yokoyama emphasizes narrative necessity: “We’re not gonna make a certain city just because it’s popular. We just make places that are necessary to build the story we are writing.”

He cited Onomichi Jingaicho from “Yakuza 6: The Song of Life” as an example. “To be honest, Onomichi was neither particularly popular nor well-known, but that wasn’t important to us. What matters is selecting locations that are essential for the story and creating them with high quality.”
Even gameplay features are subject to this story-driven approach. Regarding the newly added naval battle system, Yokoyama revealed: “If it didn’t work out, we were just not going to have that part in the game.” This demonstrates how technical features must serve the narrative rather than being included for no particular reason.

Goro Majima’s New Journey

One of the most striking elements of this work is Goro Majima becoming a pirate captain. When asked about the process of creating the theme and whether players could relate to it, Yokoyama explained that they do not decide on a theme in advance during the storytelling process. “When creating the foundation of the story, there isn’t a specific theme set, so it’s difficult to answer this question,” he stated. Instead, he emphasized that the emotional resonance of the game varies based on the player’s personal experiences and life circumstances.

“I expect that people would say little children, and then other people who may be single may feel very different about the game,” he explained.

Combat, Naval Battles, and Madlantis

The game introduces two distinct battle styles for Majima: the familiar Mad Dog style and the new Sea Dog style. Yokoyama explained that these styles are tied to the character’s roles in the story. “The basis is that they are based on the jobs the character holds,” he stated. The Mad Dog style is available from the start, while the Sea Dog style is unlocked when Majima becomes a pirate, complete with a special scene where he obtains his cutlasses and unlocks the new battle style.

Yokoyama elaborated on the challenge of making Majima playable: “This is the first time since Like a Dragon 0: The Place of Oath that Majima is a playable character, and for everyone that’s been playing the series, Majima is mostly a powerful enemy to them and so translating those powerful moves into a playable character was really difficult.”

The addition of naval battles marks a significant departure from the traditional gameplay mechanics of the series. Yokoyama revealed that this feature was particularly challenging to implement and wasn’t even shown at Tokyo Game Show 2024 last year because it wasn’t ready. “Yeah, it was very hard and it’s the thing we were adjusting until the last moment,” he shared.

“Madlantis” has been added as an important setting in the game. Yokoyama describes it as “based on a ship graveyard.” This unique location has evolved from an illegal dumping ground for shipwrecks into a community where multiple criminal organizations coexist. “Thugs of the sea have started living here, making a living primarily through illegal activities,” he explained. This place also has a story, and Yokoyama noted, “If you look closely, you’ll see that many parts are made from shipwreck materials.” He also touched on the intentionally polluted water, explaining, “The dirtiness of the water represents the human desires of the people who gather there.”

Expanding Reach and Cultural Authenticity

Since Like a Dragon represents significant steps in global accessibility, with plans for expanded language support, including Chinese dubbing. Yokoyama noted that this is part of a broader initiative for a reach of global audiences: “Our games like the RGG series and SEGA titles in general will start being localized into many more languages and there will probably be more dub languages as well.”

Content and Expectations

Yokoyama mentioned the players’ expectations for the new installment and the content designed to meet those expectations. He emphasized the importance of balancing what long-time fans of the series want with elements that new players can enjoy. “We aim to provide new experiences that maintain the elements expected by our long-time fans while also being enjoyable for new players,” he stated.
Additionally, he revealed that various substories and play spots have been prepared to enhance the depth of the game’s story and characters. This allows players to find enjoyment beyond the main story and become immersed in the game’s world. Yokoyama expressed, “Our goal is to enable players to have diverse experiences and become deeply involved in the story through the game.”

The game will receive a New Game+ feature post-launch, which Yokoyama confirmed will be free, unlike in previous titles: “After completing the game, you can carry over your data to play a New Game. This feature was available before, but last time it was part of a paid DLC. However, this time you can experience it for free.

Yokoyama noted an interesting contrast in the game’s reception between different markets. In Europe, pre-orders have exceeded expectations, with many viewing it primarily as a pirate game rather than a Like a Dragon title. Conversely, some Japanese fans have expressed concern about the departure from traditional Yakuza themes. However, Yokoyama reassured fans that “This is a game that supplements Like A Dragon 8, and once people play it, they should be able to realize that, so there should be no worry to the long-term fans.”

The game also features battle encounters with massive creatures, including a giant squid that Yokoyama revealed is “pretty important in terms of story.” This adds another layer of excitement to the naval combat system.

In conclusion, Yokoyama emphasized that while this game may appear different from the traditional “Yakuza” series, it has the potential to attract new players while maintaining the core values of the series. His message reaffirmed that the game is being developed by veteran developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio who understand and respect what fans expect from the series.

“We aim to create a game that more people can enjoy by incorporating new elements while cherishing the essence of the series. I want fans to feel assured and enjoy this new adventure,” Yokoyama said. This approach allows both existing fans and new players to rediscover and enjoy the charm of the series.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be released on February 21 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Steam.

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