In 2015 Sega releasedYakuza 0from developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and ushered in a new era of worldwide popularity for the long-running franchise. TwoYakuza Kiwamigames have followed rebooting the series' first two titles, a newYakuzafeaturing franchise protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, two spin-off Judgment games, and another sequel namedYakuza: Like a Dragonwith a new protagonist and RPG gameplay. Now Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku appear primed to announce the next project continuing theYakuzasaga.On September 8, Sega will host a short video confirmed to be coming fromRyu Ga Gotoku Studio. The trailer’s broadcast is titled “Sneak Peek Trailer Brought to You by the Director!” which while not confirming anything explicitly, hints at the announcement of the studio’s next game. Expectations are that it will be the reveal ofYakuza: Like A Dragon 2.RELATED:Numskull Reveals Yakuza Kiryu StatueNumskull Reveals Yakuza Kiryu StatueAs a start, aYakuza: Like a Dragonsequel has already been officially confirmed, if not revealed. LongtimeYakuzachief producer and writer Masayoshi Yokoyama, now promoted to studio director,confirmed theYakuza: Like a Dragonsequel’s developmentin October 2021. Developer footage was also shared of the project in June. It confirmed that the new game would feature mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura, as well as a new destiny city that hasn’t been featured in previousYakuzagames.
Also confirmed is that Yokoyama will be hosting the sneak peek, which given his long history with theYakuzaseries, would imply the focus of the event is on the already announcedYakuzaproject. This may be a bit of a red herring, however, since Yokoyama is now studio head and is likely overseeing multiple projects. There’s even been confirmation that a second project is in ongoing development at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, though it hasn’t been officially unveiled in the same way as the nextYakuzagame has.
To be clear, the newYakuzagame has been referred to not asYakuza: Like a Dragon 2by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It’s been dubbedRyÅ« ga Gotoku 8, but that has more to do with Japanese and English naming conventions for the franchise. It’s unclear if Sega will publish the game asYakuza 8orYakuza: Like a Dragon 2at this point.
WhileSega’s sneak peek may or may not beYakuza: Like a Dragon 2, fans ofYakuzaand Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s work are certain to be excited. The next game from the studio is getting nearer. Fans can tune into the broadcast, which will be in Japanese, September 8 at 4:00 AM PT/7:00 AM ET.
