Like a Dragon Producer Says Every New Game Could Be the Last

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Masayoshi Yokohama, the head of Ryu Ga Gotoku and a long-time producer of the Like a Dragon (formerly known as Yakuza) series, recently shared his approach to developing new games. He explained that he always creates each installment as if it might be the last, a philosophy he’s followed since the beginning of the franchise, where he’s played a key role in crafting the series’ story.

The Yakuza and Like a Dragon series has grown to include nine main games, plus numerous remakes, remasters, and spin-offs like Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Lost Judgment. However, the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio didn’t initially expect such success. In the early days, they weren’t sure if the games would be financially viable or culturally impactful. According to producer Masayoshi Yokohama, that feeling of needing to prove themselves still motivates the team today.

Like a Dragon Developer Still Treats Each Entry Like It Could Be the Last

In an interview with Famitsu, producer Masayoshi Yokohama shared his thoughts on developing the Like a Dragon series. He revealed he didn’t consider Yakuza a full-fledged franchise until Yakuza 3, as Yakuza 2 had a conclusion that could have ended the series. He still approaches each new installment with the mindset that it might be the last, even after all these years.

According to the creator, Masayoshi Yokohama, the future of Ichiban Kasuga in the Like a Dragon series is currently undecided. He hasn’t planned what happens to Ichiban after his appearance in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which suggests his story arc might be finished. However, he acknowledges that popular demand could lead to another Ichiban Kasuga adventure eventually.

Image via Sega

Like a Dragon’s Freeform Narrative Style Works in Its Favor

Yokohama’s insights are interesting because they challenge what many people think about long-running game series. It’s easy to assume a successful franchise with a continuing story would have a detailed plan or at least a general idea of where it’s going. You’d expect this plan to guide the plot and keep things consistent, but apparently that’s not always the case.

Yokohama’s flexible approach to storytelling actually offers significant benefits, particularly for a long-running series like Like a Dragon with its many different groups, locations, and characters. While detailed planning is useful, it can also hinder writers, as perspectives and priorities naturally evolve. Allowing a story to develop organically means that even the most carefully crafted plans might need to be adjusted along the way.

The Yakuza and Like a Dragon series approaches each game as a complete story in itself. This allows for more satisfying, self-contained narratives, while still leaving room for the series to grow. Instead of setting up future games, each entry explores its own unique ideas, and the studio builds on those concepts with each new release.

Fans concerned about the future of Ichiban Kasuga can breathe a little easier. According to Yokohama, the popular character Goro Majima ended up appearing more often in the Like a Dragon series because players loved him. This suggests that Ichiban will likely continue to be a central figure, even though the developers are still figuring out his long-term role.

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2026-01-19 21:35