Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the creative force behind the popular Like a Dragon franchise, has an exciting lineup for 2025. Among the various projects, including a new installment of Virtua Fighter and the enigmatic Project Century, fans eagerly anticipate the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, set to launch in February 2025. This upcoming game will reintroduce players to Goro Majima, a character cherished by fans, along with other familiar faces from the series.
While the new title won’t reach the expansive scale of the mainline series, such as the anticipated Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth releasing in 2024, it promises to be more substantial than the 2023 spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This suggests a potential narrative structure similar to Gaiden, opening avenues for a variety of engaging side quests. One particularly exciting opportunity lies in recreating a beloved side quest from Gaiden that featured cross-references to another RGG series.
Potential for a Judgment Cameo in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Despite being a spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden succeeded in incorporating facets of the broader RGG universe, particularly acknowledging the Judgment series. This crossover is noteworthy, as it allows for engaging narratives among characters that share the same world. In Gaiden, players experience a mission where Kiryu teams up with Masaharu Kaito, a protagonist from Judgment, facilitating a delightful crossover for fans of both series. This precedent paves the way for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii to similarly include interactions with characters from the Judgment universe.
In Gaiden’s quest “End the Destruction,”not only does Kiryu engage with Kaito, but characters like Toru Higashi and Fumiya Sugiura also make appearances, with opportunities to recruit Sugiura for the game’s Colosseum. This provides a fantastic scenario for Majima to engage with these notable characters, fulfilling a long-awaited interaction for fans. Perhaps, following the events of Lost Judgment, characters like Sugiura and Makoto Tsukumo may emerge as allies or cameo characters in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Both Sugiura and Tsukumo have already been confirmed as cameos in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, raising speculation about their potential involvement in the upcoming title as well.
Hinting at a Third Judgment Game in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
With two successful entries in the Judgment series already established, fans are eagerly hoping for a third installment, possibly set in Hawaii, mirroring the narrative journey of Lost Judgment, which was framed after Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Introducing characters from the Judgment universe in Pirate Yakuza could serve as a clever segue into this potential future title, setting a precedent for further crossover appearances in the Like a Dragon franchise.
Majima’s capability to recruit a pirate crew presents an excellent opportunity to integrate familiar faces from Judgment as recruitable allies, akin to Sugiura’s role in Gaiden. While some may argue the plausibility of these characters appearing in Hawaii, this initiative could establish robust connections between the titles and keep the momentum alive for fans who are eager for more from the Judgment narrative while RGG prepares its upcoming projects.
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