RGG Studio boss Masayoshi Yokoyama officially explained the reasons for the series name change “Yakuza” in “Like A Dragon”. In short, it is a choice linked to history of the game.
Yokoyama confirmed that RGG will no longer use Yakuza in titles of the series and revealed that the change – as players will surely have already guessed – had already begun with Yakuza: Like A Dragon. The information was shared with IGN USA at the Tokyo Game Show 2022.
Yokoyama said: “[Il titolo di Yakuza 7] was Yakuza: Like A Dragon, as we thought that if we suddenly released this game without ‘Yakuza’ in the name, people would be wondering: ‘What is this game? What is happening?’. The response to the Like A Dragon name was pretty good, so it gave us the confidence to take out Yakuza and go straight to Like A Dragon. Also from the point of view of history, we are talking about the underworld, but not the Yakuza. So it makes sense not to include them in the name. If we continued this structure, the game would be called Yakuza: Ishin! [Ma] it’s not Yakuza: Ishin! It is not about that. So Like A Dragon: Ishin! it makes more sense. ”
In simple terms, the saga is no longer directly linked to the Yakuza and the name change is the best thing to be consistent with the plot. RGG Studio gives the utmost importance to the narration of the series and has in fact stated that even the gameplay is conditioned by the plot: Like a Dragon could also become a party game if it served to support the narrative.
Finally, let’s take stock of the upcoming games: Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Like a Dragon Ishin and Like A Dragon 8.
The first is centered on Kiryu and is based on the events that took place after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The second is the remake of a spin-off never before arrived in the West that takes us to 1860. The third continues the story of Yakuza: Like A Dragon (2020) and stars both Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga. Both Like A Dragon: Ishin and Like A Dragon Gaiden will be released in 2023, while Like A Dragon 8 will be released in 2024.
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