"Pirate Yakuza: Elevating Comedic Masculinity"

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to blend serious drama with comedic flair, according to developer RGG Studio. Dive into the details of what this anticipated game will offer!

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 limits of reality while delivering a compelling "manly drama" storyline, as shared by RGG Studio in an interview with Automaton Media.

Known for its humor and memorable characters, the series features Goro Majima, often cited as one of the funniest characters. However, RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed that this iteration of Majima will adopt a "more serious" demeanor, particularly in the early stages of the narrative.

Ryosuke Horii, the producer of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, elaborated on Yokoyama's comments, emphasizing the central "manly drama" that explores Majima’s passionate journey towards his goals and the bonds he forms. "The goofing off isn’t the main focus – there’s a manly drama at the heart of the game. Sure, there are some wild detours, but it's essentially a straightforward story about a passionate man," Horii explained.

Horii also highlighted Majima's unique qualities, which differentiate him from the series' long-time protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu. As translated by Automaton, "If we didn’t leverage Majima’s unique traits, there would be no point in making him the lead. That’s why we stretched the boundaries of reality more than we would with Kiryu, aiming to provide players with a rich variety of action. ... Balancing the pirate theme, Majima's character, and the essence of 'Ryu ga Gotoku' was a challenging but rewarding task."

The game aims to strike a perfect balance between realism and extravagance, ensuring that the gameplay remains engaging and "wilder" while maintaining a serious and coherent drama.

Majima Maji Festival In Japan

To celebrate the game's upcoming release, RGG Studio is hosting the Majima’s Maji Festival in six cities across Japan. The event kicked off on December 1st, 2024, in Sapporo and is nearing its end, with stops remaining 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 festivities!

The latest installment in the Like a Dragon/Yakuza franchise, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features Goro Majima, "The Mad Dog of Shimano," as the protagonist. With its thrilling combat system, exciting naval battles, vibrant characters, and heartfelt story, the game promises a unique 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.