December 8, 2025 marks 20 YEARS since the release of the original “Ryu Ga Gotoku” in Japan for the PlayStation 2. Better known as “Yakuza” in the west and later its literal translation of “Like A Dragon”, the SEGA action adventure series has seen a phenomenal rise and many sequels, remakes, and spin-offs since the release of the original game - and now RGG Studio and the rest of the cast and crew are delivering some special messages for the fans to see below to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the series!
The world of Like A Dragon/ Ryu Ga Gotoku expands anew to the world of live-action, as Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video, SEGA, and RGG Studios have officially announced “Like A Dragon: Yakuza” - a brand new series that features Kamen Rider Drive actor Ryoma Takeuchi in the lead as he takes on the lead role of fan favorite character and longtime series lead Kazuma Kiryu - aka the Dragon of Dojima!🐉
You can check out more news and details via the official press release from the Prime and Amazon MGM Studios website here.
Like A Dragon: Yakuza, directed by Masaharu Take, will officially stream on Prime Video this October!
One of the most highly anticipated releases coming at the start of this year is RGG Studio and SEGA’s new entry in the Like A Dragon/ Ryu Ga Gotoku series - “Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth”. Pairing together new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga together with longtime series lead Kazuma Kiryu, the game sees the two Dragons heading to Hawaii to find Ichiban’s mother, while Kiryu battles an enemy he cannot easily defeat in the form of cancer.
Thanks to SEGA, here’s more details on the side story the former Dragon of Dojima will undertake with his “Bucket List”.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth New Details on Kazuma Kiryu's Side Story Arc – the Bucket List!
SEGA is pleased to reveal the "Ending Notes" of Kazuma Kiryu's side story arc, one of the main characters of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is slated for release on January 26, 2024. (Available on PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Steam).
What Is The Bucket List?
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth features unique side stories for its dual protagonists, Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu. The Bucket List serves as Kiryu's exclusive side story.
Ichiban Kasuga, who is no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, will find himself turning Dondoko Island from a scrap heap to a five-star resort, whereas Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing his last days, will have to complete his own bucket list.
Story
Kiryu reveals to his companions that his days are numbered. His friends suggest that he create a bucket list to find closure and make the most of what time he has left.
Content
The Bucket List contains a list of Kiryu's lifelong wishes and loose ends he must tie up before his life comes to an end. These appear in the form of Life Links, a series of episodes that shed light on what Kiryu's former companions are up to now; Memoirs of a Dragon, a chance for Kiryu to reminisce by visiting places from his past; and Unfinished Business, a collection of loose ends that appear as missions which Kiryu must tend to.
Kiryu's exclusive Soul, Tech, and Body parameters will increase as he checks off more items on his bucket list. Raising Kiryu's Awakening level will strengthen each aspect of his iconic Dragon of Doijima fighting style. Tying up Kiryu's loose ends will bring him closer to his peak physical condition.
Life Links
A series of episodes that provide a glimpse into the present lives of Kiryu's old friends, providing a chance for reflection. Kiryu's fateful reunion with Date serves as a catalyst for Life Links—some of which involve Date's scheming and conniving. Throughout his journey, Kiryu has crossed paths with numerous people and left a profound impact on their lives—just as they have played a significant role in shaping who he is today. What will Kiryu glean from the lives of his old acquaintances?
Some characters can assist in combat as Poundmates after reaching a certain point in their story.
Memoirs Of A Dragon
An exploration mode where Kiryu can reconnect with his past by revisiting familiar locations in Kamurocho and Isezaki Ijincho. Memoirs of a Dragon gives Kiryu an opportunity to relive his memories as well as spur on his reawakening.
Unfinished Business
A collection of loose ends that Kiryu must tend to. These can range from eating at a restaurant, singing karaoke, or laying the beatdown on some enemies. Completing them will increase Kiryu's Awakening.
Unfinished Business plays a pivotal role in Kiryu's growth and making progress in Life Links, so be sure to devote some time to it.
Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth will hit the shelves this Friday, January 26th! Pre-order the game now!
SEGA's Ryu Ga Gotoku/ Yakuza series has been one of my favorite action adventure games in recent years. Getting to explore the streets of Japan as a tough as nails Yakuza never gets old, especially when you get to beat up bad guys and date girls in hostess bars. That formula never gets old, and I'm sure glad a new installment is coming to the PS3.
However, this installment isn't going to be an ordinary one. All the elements of a typical Yakuza game are intact... but SEGA is adding zombies to the equation! Yes, a new game featuring undead monstrosities and creatures straight out of a Bio Hazard/ Resident Evil game are here, and things just get even more crazier when other gangsters, namely Ryuji Goda, Shun Akiyama, and Goro Majima, come to join main protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in defeating the ghouls, armed with bad ass weaponry and all! Check out this awesome trailer to "Ryu Ga Gotoku: Of The End"!
Ryu Ga Gotoku: Of The End Tokyo Game Show Debut Trailer
Once I popped online to check on the gaming news, I see this eye-opening post over at Kotaku:
It appears that newest game in Sega's action crime Ryu Ga Gotoku/ Yakuza series is adding zombies to the mix... yes, ZOMBIES! This must be why the latest entry is called "Yakuza: Of The End", since it has hordes of the undead roaming around the streets of a destroyed Kamurocho. As Kotaku states, this pic was confirmed and shown in the latest issue of Famitsu, and several other scans show the Japanese Self Defense Force trying to contain the situation as best they can. The plot sounds a lot like Resident Evil 2 and High School Of The Dead to me. But hey, even if it's far-fetched, if you have Kazuma Kiryu beating up zombies senseless and dating/ saving hot hostess girls at the same time, I'm in!
No release date has been given for the new Yakuza game yet in Japan. Expect more details to arise (pun intended) soon.
After months of staving off from giving any word as to the fate of the series in the west, Sega finally announced that Ryu ga Gotoku 3, better known as Yakuza 3 to english gamers, is coming to the US nad UK on March next year. That means there's going to be more gangs, more explosions, lots of women, and plenty of action, as only main tough guy Kazuma Kiryu can deliver. It's still three months off from the actual release, so to tide things over, a new UK debut trailer has been launched to give western fans a taste of things to come. Check it out and enjoy the tattoo mayhem.
Hot on the heels of this week's Tokyo Game Show, a couple of announcements made by various gaming companies suddenly fueled my expectations and made me more hopeful for what's to come in the next year or so. Most of these were reported by the good folks from Kotaku, so read away and get pumped before we hear more major announcements in the next few days:
Resident Evil 5's getting a director's cut? That's what Patricia Ja Lee, the voice of Jill Valentine in RE5, is saying. Speculation still up in the air, and it could just be a new DLC the game's getting, but the word is out via Kotaku, so you check the news link here.
I'm still crossing my fingers about Yakuza 3 making it stateside, but SEGA already promises to show the next installment in the series in the TGS. A sneak peak of the trailer has already made its way to Kotaku, so take a looksie at the vid above if you're curious about what Mr. Kiryu's going to deal with next in Yakuza 4.
Arc Systems has announced a new expansion to Blazblue, their latest fighter and the spiritual successor to the Guilty Gear series. Entitled "Blazblue: Continuum Shift", the expansion will include the once unplayable character Tsubaki Yayoi as the latest addition to the game's growing roster. New stages and a refined HUD are also expected with the new release, so am looking forward to this update by next year.
That's about it for now. Here's to more major announcements to come in the TGS. I hope to get blown away by the surprises... if there's any.
News from gaming site 1up.com just brightened my day and served me an excuse to wait for some new action game goodness next year! Apparently, Sega has seen the light and has announced that the 3rd installment to the popular Ryu Ga Gotoku series will be localized. That's right, Yakuza 3 WILL be making it to the US, and for fans of the series, including yours truly, that's really something to look forward to. There's been no official word on a release date, but knowing SEGA, they may just announce it during this year's Tokyo Game Show, which happens only a few days away. If it does happen there, it will be quite ironic on two counts - firstly, because Yakuza 2 for the PS2 was announced for the states back in 2007, and finally because the next installment in the series, Yakuza 4, will make its debut!
Oh yeah, Mr. Kiryu's getting the spotlight once more, and I can't wait to see him kick ass, paint the town red, and date more sexy ladies! Huzzah!
Speaking of the Tokyo Game Show, many game sites, including 1up, are reporting that Capcom's teasing a "new Street Fighter" on the works. If that's the case, then will we see a new installment in the series already, or another traditional upgrade that's become a staple of previous installments before? Can anyone say Street Fighter IV Dash? Street Fighter IV Hyper Fighting?! Here's my fingers crossed for whatever happens, and I want more characters! So far, there are lots of speculations as to WHO might appear. Well, anyway it goes, I just want to hear the word... FIGHT!XD
