Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Demo Available Today

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has exciting news for fans of the Yakuza series: a free demo for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to launch today. Gamers can dive into the action on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. The demo will be available for download starting at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK, as announced by the studio on X/Twitter.

While the full game is slated for release on February 21, it will also be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. However, fans on these platforms will miss out on the free demo experience. The studio hasn't confirmed whether progress made in the demo will carry over to the full game, but given the demo's structure, it seems unlikely. The demo allows players to jump directly into specific freeroam and battle areas, bypassing the game's natural story progression.

In the demo, players can explore segments of Honolulu and Madlantis, areas not accessible at the start of the full game. They'll have the chance to switch between the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles, battle against formidable bounty enemies, and take on four ship and deck battles in the Pirates' Coliseum. Additionally, the demo offers new customization features and side activities like karaoke with a choice of three songs.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spin-off sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, marking it as the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth, including Yakuza 0). The game follows the adventures of Goro Majima, who wakes up with amnesia and embarks on a pirate's journey across Hawaii.

A trailer showcased at the October Xbox Partner Showcase provided a first glimpse at ship combat, reminiscent of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, and hinted at the return of Taiga Saejima, suggesting deeper connections to the main series than initially anticipated. The game is expected to offer a longer experience than the previous spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, with a story that takes approximately 15 to 18 hours to complete.

For fans eager to see Majima dressed as the iconic Kiryu Kazuma, this option is available, but only for those who sign up for email notifications or join the Sega reward system.