Yakuza

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio held on December viii a special live stream jubilant the 15th anniversary of the Yakuza series. The offset Ryu Ga Gotoku game released 15 years ago on PS2 on December viii, 2005. Toshihiro Nagoshi most notably confirmed at the end of the stream that the next game in the Yakuza series is already in development. Judging from past words from the Producers, it'll likely be "Yakuza: Like A Dragon 2" but it's of import to note they didn't specify if it'll be a main title or a spinoff.

Hither's almost everything which happened on the Yakuza 15th anniversary stream:

The stream was MC'ed by Yurika Tachibana. It featured the seiyuu of Kiryu and Ichiban: Takaya Kuroda and Kazuhiro Nakaya. The three Yakuza Serial Producers were present likewise: Toshihiro Nagoshi, Daisuke Satō, and Masayoshi Yokoyama.

Yakuza – Ryu Ga Gotoku 15th Ceremony Stream

The stream had the staff retrace the history of the Yakuza series, game per game. Spinoffs and stage plays included. We got to hear development stories on each game, and fans watching the stream via Zoom were able to ask some questions direct to the Producers. The fans were as well asked questions themselves, like how many games in the series they played in total.

We most notably heard how Yakuza iv was initially supposed to be a spinoff, with how it's the first game where you can switch protagonists. But then, Toshihiro Nagoshi told the staff information technology's fine to call it "Ryu Ga Gotoku iv". That'southward likewise when the series started using sub titles for the games' names in Japan.

Ane fan asked the staff which Yakuza graphic symbol they'd like to work with or have as a subordinate. Toshihiro Nagoshi answered the question: "None of them, they'd all cause trouble".

Wreckfest | Stadia Release Trailer

Toshihiro Nagoshi besides talked about some of his inspirations for the PSP spinoff Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku Shinshō. Mainly how he always loved battle drama stories like Ashita no Joe.

Moreover, we heard how Ryū ga Gotoku Of The End / Yakuza Expressionless Souls could've featured aliens instead of zombies.

Toshihiro Nagoshi wanted Kiryu to tell the aliens "don't but barge into people'southward planet like you own the place".

Next, we also heard stories on Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!, PS4 launch title in Japan. They wanted to either brand a game based on The 3 Kingdoms, or the Shinsengumi. In the terminate, they went with the later, with Sakamoto Ryoma as the protagonist. Masayoshi Yokoyama also explained Tosihiro Nagoshi didn't know much near the historical facts hen working on the game. Similarly, Nagoshi really didn't know much nearly Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the Due north Star) before making Hokuto Ga Gotoku too. And only idea it'southward the story of a "quarrel between brothers" which technically isn't wrong at all.

Yakuza 0 mayhap could have been called something else. Main reason they made it is because a lot of fans wanted a game with Majima as the protagonist.

As they reached Yakuza: similar A Dragon, Nagoshi reexplained why the game is a JRPG. Mainly how they idea they pretty much did everything they could with Action games. And the protagonist change was a practiced opportunity to change the rest too.

Some other fan question: Do you often modify a character's blueprint or setting during development: Nagoshi explained for the main cast of characters they tend to set everything in stone at the start and then they don't change much. They exercise increase the screentime of characters who end up very popular like Majima though.

Following next, we had the announcement segment, with new collabs, goods, and events. The official logo for the 15th anniversary was revealed as well.

Yakuza 15th anniversary musk, with a limited edition.

Yakuza Like A Dragon collab in PSO2 Nihon coming in January 2022. Notation that this wasn't announced for the Western version of PSO2.

MJ collab event.

Shonan no Kaze stream concert coming Dec 20.

A video message from Shonan no Kaze was shared besides. They congratulated the Yakuza series and its staff for reaching the 15th ceremony, and apace shared their feel with the games.

The Japanese PS5 version of Yakuza: Like A Dragon will launch on March 2, 2022. Information technology's titled Ryu Ga Gotoku seven Hikari to Yami no Yukue International. It'll add together the English language voices also so Japanese players will be able to switch between each. This is the same engagement equally the western release of the PS5 version.

The staff and cast shared some words of thank you equally the stream ended.

Masayoshi Yokoyama promised fans that the futurity games in the serial will keep being fun and interesting.

Daisuke Sato: When the offset game released, nosotros thought we'd exist able to make three games at most. Nosotros never expected it to keep going so long and we really take to give thanks the fans. Like Yokoyama said we'll keep making the series fun and promise we get to continue going and reach the 20th ceremony. Please keep supporting united states of america.

Toshihiro Nagoshi: I'll be repeating what everyone else said. We can only thank the fans for supporting usa this long. It'southward thanks to the fans we can keep challenging ourselves and keep going. I think we work on each game as if information technology'south our last, and 1 of the reasons nosotros manage to ever practise our all-time. I can likewise confirm nosotros're working on the next game.

【『龍が如く』15周年記念特番配信決定】
本日20時より
龍が如く15周年を記念した生放送番組を配信！

ゲストに黒田崇矢さん、中谷一博さんをお迎えし、
15年の歴史を振り返ると共に、龍が如く最新情報も！

視聴URLはこちらhttps://t.co/LuDiquRGkb pic.twitter.com/3PmF80K2CV

— 龍が如くスタジオ公式 (@ryugagotoku) Dec 8, 2022