What to Expect From the Like a Dragon Franchise in 2025

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As a longtime fan of the Yakuza series, I find myself both excited and apprehensive about the upcoming year for this beloved franchise. Having grown up with Kazuma Kiryu as my virtual mentor through thick and thin, it’s hard not to feel a sense of nostalgia as we approach the 20th anniversary of the Yakuza series in 2025.

One of Sega’s most successful franchises in recent years has been Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Like a Dragon, and 2024 was one of the biggest years for the series yet. In addition to the release of the latest mainline installment in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, this past year also saw the release of a live-action TV adaptation of the series from Amazon Prime. However, 2025 could be in a great position to top this year’s stream of content, as the Like a Dragon series will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with all eyes on where the franchise will be headed next.

2025 will see the release of one game under the franchise we know, titled “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” scheduled for February. Yet, RGG Studio’s Director and Executive Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama has hinted that fans should anticipate additional surprises from the franchise next year, as its 20th anniversary approaches. With plenty of excitement on the horizon, fans of “Like a Dragon” are gearing up for another significant year in 2025.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is Set to Launch in February

Majima Dons the Mantle of Protagonist Once Again

Following the triumph of 2023’s “Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name”, fans are in for another thrilling spin-off, focusing on beloved character Goro Majima. Titled “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii”, this game picks up where “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” left off, introducing an amnesiac Majima who lands on the shores of a Hawaiian island. Here, he gets entangled in a struggle between local pirates and the lingering remnants of the Palekana religious group. The game will adopt a more conventional action-based combat system like “Like a Dragon Gaiden”, contrasting with the turn-based combat seen in “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth”. It also highlights Majima’s new Sea Dog Style, offering an array of pirate weapons for combat.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is slated for a February 21, 2025 release.

In the game titled Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, although it shares some similarities with the spin-off series, Gaiden, fans will find an abundance of mini-games and additional features to explore. Confirmed mini-games for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii encompass:

  • Crazy Delivery
  • Karaoke
  • Dragon Kart
  • Masaru’s Love Journey – My Dream Minato Girl –

Among the many intriguing aspects of the game “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” is the opportunity to gather and develop your own pirate team, setting sail on the open ocean. The game promises thrilling sea battles as you engage with rival pirate crews, a style of play that appears to echo Ubisoft’s 2013 success, “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag“.

Project Century Could Be the Like a Dragon Series’ Next Step

The Roots of the Tojo and Omi Could Be Explored in Project Century

At The Game Awards 2024, RGG Studio unveiled a new game titled Project Century, which appears to be an action-brawler with combat reminiscent of the classic Like a Dragon. Instead of the usual modern setting, this new title transports players to 1915 Japan. Although specifics about the game are scarce, it seems that players will delve deeper into the ruthless criminal underworld of Japan, but within a historical framework. As yet, it’s unclear if Project Century is connected to the Like a Dragon series in any way.

There are ideas suggesting that Project Century might take place before the formation of the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance, key groups in the world of Like a Dragon. However, we don’t have enough details yet to confirm this connection. It’s plausible that Project Century will continue the style of RGG’s Judgment series and be a standalone title with loose ties to the broader Like a Dragon universe. No matter its relation to Like a Dragon, this upcoming game is bound to satisfy fans yearning for more combat-focused action.

RGG Summit Will Likely Return in Fall 2025

Fans Could See Their First Glimpse of Like a Dragon 9

Based on the pattern of recent years, it’s quite probable that fans will witness another RGG Summit event around Fall 2025. Historically, these events have offered fans a comprehensive glimpse into the developer’s upcoming projects, and they’ve been the stage for significant reveals and announcements from the Like a Dragon series in the past. Given this history, it seems likely that RGG Summit 2025 will be the platform to learn about where the franchise is heading beyond 2025.

As a die-hard fan, I’m speculating about the possibility of a sneak peek at “Like a Dragon 9” during the 2025 RGG Summit. Given the consistent annual releases and the fact that 2025 marks the series’ 20th anniversary, it feels like an opportune moment for such a reveal. Even though “Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” was just released in 2024, there might be a hint of what’s to come in the second half of 2025, although we’re likely still quite a way from playing it.

The Like a Dragon Series Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

RGG Could Have More Anniversary Surprises in Store

In 2025, the biggest mystery surrounding the Like a Dragon franchise is what RGG Studio has planned to commemorate the series’ 20th anniversary. The 10th anniversary was marked with the release of the popular Yakuza 0, along with additional content such as a series encyclopedia and merchandise. Although it’s improbable that fans will receive another major game release apart from Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii in 2025, there is potential for RGG Studio to unveil other captivating projects of the same caliber as this year’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza Amazon Prime series or provide more details about Project Century.

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2024-12-16 14:06