Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Will be Much Larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden

Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure! The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises a significantly larger and more ambitious experience than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Details revealed at RGG SUMMIT 2024 paint a picture of a truly expansive game.

Majima's Hawaiian Hijinks: A 2025 Release

A Grander Scale for Pirate Yakuza

RGG Studio President Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii boasts a game world and story approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a simple expansion; it's a leap to a completely new level. Yokoyama hinted at the sheer size, stating (via Famitsu and machine translation), "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself...Honolulu City, from Infinite Wealth, and various stages like Madlantis, make the game volume much larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden."

The increased scale extends beyond the game world. Expect a wealth of content, from the series' signature brawling combat to a plethora of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama also suggested that the traditional "Gaiden" label as a mere spin-off is becoming obsolete, hinting that this title will stand alongside mainline entries as a fully-fledged experience.

The Hawaiian setting provides a unique backdrop for Goro Majima's latest adventure, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki. The story finds Majima shipwrecked and inexplicably becoming a pirate. While details remain shrouded in mystery, Ugaki expressed his excitement while remaining tight-lipped about specifics. He stated, "The game information is finally out, but there’s so much more I want to share. I tend to talk a lot, but I've been told not to say anything yet!"

Adding to the intrigue, voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama himself offered a cryptic hint: "There was one interesting recording scene; when I went to the restroom, there was an aquarium with a clownfish...and a lot of beautiful women...It wasn't a dating show, but it was exciting!" This might relate to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form, following auditions held earlier this year. Ryosuke Horii commented on the auditions, stating, "Many participants, unaware of their roles, demonstrated a love for the series and a passion to work with us."

For more on the auditions, see our related article!