Details of the upcoming Yakuza / Like A Dragon spinoff game, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, have been leaked and made available on PlayStation Store price tracking website, PSDeals. According to the site, the game will be released on 9 November 2023 on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Screenshots and a description of the game were visible on the site before being removed, and have since been reported by gaming outlet Gematsu.
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will revisit former primary Yakuza series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, who now goes by the codename ‘Joryu’. He has reportedly faked his own death and abandoned his name to protect his family, but has been drawn out of hiding to take part in some undercover work. The game will be set in the fictional Sotenbori, which parallels real-life Osaka, and in Yokohama, which featured in both Yakuza 7 and Lost Judgment. There is also a third location, referred to as ‘the mysterious Castle’, which appears to be an entertainment district.
The game’s primary feature is a brand new fighting style, which will co-exist with Kiryu’s signature chaotic street brawling from the previous games. The two styles are ‘Yakuza’ and ‘Agent’. The new ‘Agent’ style is focused on speed, precision, and the use of high-tech gadgets to stun and disable enemies. The traditional ‘Yakuza’ style uses raw strength and aggression, and presumably uses environmental objects to cause violent mayhem.
Like previous games in the series, Like A Dragon Gaiden will include minigames and side activities such as karaoke, slot-car racing, and a live-action cabaret club. A character named Akame, described as an ‘informant’, will lead players into the game’s sub-missions.
The game was likely scheduled to be revealed in full at the RGG Summit showcase, hosted by developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, which is set for 16 June 2023. In fact, a new trailer for the game was debuted at the Summer Game Fest 2023 showcase, confirming its release date.
In summary, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is set for release on 9 November 2023 and will feature a new fighting style and many of the minigames and side activities associated with the Yakuza series. The game will also revisit former series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu as he emerges from hiding to take part in some undercover work.
