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's story and world will be approximately 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a simple expansion; it's a complete leap in scale. Yokoyama hinted at the game's vastness, stating (via Famitsu and machine translation), "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself...Of course there’s Honolulu City, which appeared in [Infinite Wealth], and there are various stages, such as Madlantis, so I think the game volume is much larger than [Like a Dragon Gaiden]."

The increased size isn't just about map size. Expect a substantial boost in content, encompassing the series' signature brawling combat, a plethora of quirky side activities, and numerous mini-games. Yokoyama also suggested a shift in the "Gaiden" concept, stating that the idea of a "spin-off" or "side story" is fading, implying this could be a main-series-level experience.

The Hawaiian setting provides a refreshing change of pace. Goro Majima, voiced again by Hidenari Ugaki, takes center stage in this unexpected pirate adventure. While the specifics of Majima's transformation remain shrouded in mystery, Ugaki expressed his excitement, though remaining tight-lipped about plot details.

Voice Actor Teases and Live-Action Elements

Ugaki commented, "The information about the game has finally been announced, but there are many other elements and there is still a lot of information I want to tell you...I’ve been told not to say anything, so I’m not completely satisfied yet."

Adding to the intrigue, voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie) hinted at a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita), teasing an amusing anecdote from the recording process involving an aquarium and "a lot of beautiful women." These "beautiful women" may be the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form, following auditions held earlier this year. Ryosuke Horii noted the enthusiasm of the audition participants, many of whom were passionate fans of the series.

For further details on the auditions, please refer to our related article.