Relic Entertainment Announces New Project From Acclaimed Yakuza Franchise Developers

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the acclaimed developers behind the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises, are teasing their next project, promising to surprise fans. Despite not revealing any specific details, the studio's activity in the recent years, including the release of a main series game, two spinoffs, and an upcoming live-action adaptation, suggests an exciting new direction for the beloved crime drama series. Gamers eagerly await the reveal of this mysterious new entry, eager to see how the studio will innovate and build upon the iconic Yakuza formula that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the acclaimed developers behind the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises, have teased fans about their next project, promising to surprise the gaming community.

The SEGA studio has firmly established itself as a mainstay in the industry, thanks to the recent success of its flagship series. The Like a Dragon games, in particular, have garnered critical acclaim, with 2020's Yakuza: Like A Dragon even earning a "Best RPG" nomination at The Game Awards. The series' reboot into the Like a Dragon iteration saw a significant shift, transitioning from traditional action combat to a turn-based system more akin to RPGs. However, the series has retained its signature sprawling cityscapes for players to explore, and this year's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth even allowed gamers to switch between new protagonist Ichiban and iconic hero Kiryu. Now, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is hinting at an exciting new direction for the beloved crime drama franchise, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the reveal of this mysterious new project.

According to VGC, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the developers behind the acclaimed Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises, provided a cryptic teaser about their next project during the "Essence of Fandom" event at Anime Expo, stating that fans would be "surprised" by their upcoming game release, which was confirmed to be related to the unannounced next entry in the Like a Dragon series, though the studio did not specify whether it would be a new main-series installment or a spinoff.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Teasing Next Yakuza Game

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, known for the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises, has been intentionally vague about its next project, but the latter series recently received another surprise announcement - a six-episode live-action series from Amazon, expected to premiere later this year. This series will reportedly follow the iconic character Kazuma Kiryu, set in both 1995 and 2005, and will be available in 30 different languages worldwide, set to debut on October 24, further expanding the beloved crime drama franchise beyond video games.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has been keeping busy since the start of 2023, with the release of the latest main-series game, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, as well as two spinoffs launched last year - Like a Dragon: Ishin, a remake of a Japan-exclusive title following a samurai ancestor of Kazuma Kiryu, and Like a Dragon Gaiden, which follows Kiryu between the events of Yakuza 6 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. With the franchise's growing popularity and the recent surprise announcement of a live-action series from Amazon, fans of the Like a Dragon series likely won't have to wait long for more news about its future.