New Like A Dragon spin-off stars Majima in Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii --[Reported by Umva mag]

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced a new Like A Dragon spin-off, where you sail the seas around Hawaii as Goro Majima.

While many feared the next game in the Like A Dragon franchise would be a leaked mobile spin-off, it turns out Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has been cooking up something else, that’s more in step with fan expectations.

During the studio’s RGG Summit 2024 presentation on Friday, the team announced a new spin-off title called Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii, where you play as Goro Majima. While the character has been playable in previous instalments, notably Yakuza 0, this is the first entry where he’s the lead protagonist.

Judging by the trailer, it looks similar in scope to previous spin-off Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, only with a much sillier, pirate theme. Like that game, it also removes the turn-based combat introduced in Yakuza: Like A Dragon, in favour of the beat ’em-up style action from older entries.

The game itself appears to take place after Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and sees Majima shipwrecked on a remote island and unable to remember his own name. He is saved by a boy named Noah, who accompanies him on a journey to restore his lost memories.

Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is set primarily across three locations. Infinite Wealth’s Hawaii map makes a return, but there’s also two new areas in Rich Island and Madlantis, which is a ship graveyard where the coliseum fighting arena is, alongside other activities.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio states there will be other islands to explore too, which you can find by sailing the Hawaiian seas as pirate captain Majima. According to the game’s description, you’ll assemble a pirate crew, upgrade your ship, and engage in real-time cannon battles.

‘When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out,’ reads the description. ‘Quickly manoeuvre into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands, and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!’

When it comes to the actual brawling, Majima will have two different fighting styles, in the Yakuza-style Mad Dog and Sea Dog with the latter geared around dual-wielding swords, pirate firearms, and chain hooks. For the first time in the series, you’ll also be able to jump in battles and utilise aerial takedowns.

The developer also outlined the spin-off’s roster of mini-games, which includes Crazy Delivery from Infinite Wealth, Dragon Kart from Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and Karaoke. The only announced new mini-game is Minato Girls, which revolves around character Masaru Fujita’s quest for love and features live action cut scenes.

While it’s clearly building off Infinite Wealth, the pirate ship angle, if done well, might be enough to give this spin-off a distinctive flavour.

We don’t have too long to wait either. Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is set to come out on February 28, 2025 across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

Before that, Yakuza Kiwami, the remake of the first game in the series, is set to be released on Nintendo Switch on October 24, while Amazon’s TV adaptation is set to debut on October 25.

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