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

Prepare for a swashbuckling adventure unlike any other! The upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to be significantly larger and more ambitious than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. RGG Studio's announcements at RGG SUMMIT 2024 revealed exciting details about this expansive new title.

Majima's Hawaiian Hijinks: A 2025 Release

A Grander Scale Than Gaiden

RGG Studio President Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will boast a game world 1.3 to 1.5 times the size of Like a Dragon Gaiden. This isn't a mere expansion; it's a complete leap in scale. Yokoyama hinted at the vastness, stating (via Famitsu and machine translation), "We don’t even know the exact area of the city itself... Honolulu City, from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, is included, and there are various stages, such as Madlantis, so I think the game volume is much larger than Like a Dragon Gaiden."

The game's content is equally expansive. Expect the series' signature brawling combat, alongside a plethora of quirky side activities and mini-games. Yokoyama even suggested that the traditional "Gaiden" label as a simple spin-off is evolving, stating it's "gradually disappearing from us," implying this title will rival mainline entries in scope and depth.

The setting itself—the Hawaiian islands—promises a significant departure from previous games. The charismatic 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 he's been sworn to secrecy.

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

Further intrigue comes from voice actor First Summer Uika (Noah Ritchie), who teased a live-action scene featuring Ryuji Akiyama (Masaru Fujita). Akiyama added to the mystery, recounting a memorable recording experience: "There was one interesting recording scene, and when I went to the toilet to relieve myself, there was an aquarium in front of me with a clownfish in it… Also, there were really a lot of beautiful women at the recording… It’s not a love reality show, but with a scene like that, there’s an excitement that makes you mistakenly think you’re popular."

This "beautiful women" comment may refer to the "Minato Ward girls," who will appear in both live-action and CG form. Ryosuke Horii, involved in the casting process, noted the enthusiasm of the actresses selected, highlighting their love for the series.

For more details on the casting process, refer to our related article.