Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii moves release forward by a week

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will hit stores a week earlier than initially announced. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the game’s developer, stated that the early release was due to its smooth development. The game will introduce Goro Majima as a pirate lord and return to the action style used in previous titles in the franchise.

The beloved Like a Dragon franchise will add to its game catalog when Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is released in early 2025. The much-anticipated RPG action-adventure game is a spin-off developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for the Like a Dragon series. 

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii announces earlier release date

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the developer linked to the Like a Dragon series, confirmed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii would move its release date forward to February 21st. In the new trailer, studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed that the update release date was selected to allow players to enjoy the game a week earlier than expected. Yokoyama also stated that the game’s smooth development was a key reason for the studio’s ability to move the release date forward. 

In the trailer,  Yokoyama stated that the developers wanted gamers to be “able to play the game that comes after it, with peace of mind.” He added that he had gotten support from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega, the game’s publisher, to make the early release a reality. Yokoyama also introduced the game’s main character, Goro Majima, whose likeness is printed on the game’s official cover art, which is held by Yokoyama in the trailer. 

However, gamers online voiced a different opinion and speculated that other reasons were behind the game’s early release. The gamers stated that the release date being brought forward was likely due to the release of Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28th. The popular RPG game is also highly anticipated, and gamers online speculated that its release would water down Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s release.

Masashi  Yokoyama reveals more details

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head, Masayoshi Yokoyama, revealed that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii would follow the events of  Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Yokoyama revealed the game’s setting, stating that it would start with the protagonist, Goro Majima, who starts after suffering from amnesia.

He also adds that the game will be a “fast-paced action game that can be enjoyed without prior knowledge.”  Yokohama also added that gamers interested in pirates without knowledge of the game should try it out. 

Yokoyama also addressed the game’s gameplay, which was featured in the game’s second trailer. He stated that the trailer showed how players can customize their ships and provided them with new information about the naval battle mode, “where the gamers can enjoy the flashy ship-to-ship combat.” The second trailer was well-received online, with some players stating that the combat style was great and the naval combat aspects were similar to those of Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, earning it a shot of being a “Game of the Year” contender.