LogInRyu Ga Gotoku, the developer behind the Like a Dragon series, shares that in their pursuit of capturing modern trends, they strive to ensure that their franchise games are released promptly.
Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Ryu Ga Gotoku, the developer behind the Like a Dragon franchise, formerly known as the Yakuza series, has been steadfast in its commitment, already boasting over ten releases with no intention of halting their momentum.
At first glance, one might assume that the developers have mastered their process and are encountering minimal difficulties. However, Masayoshi Yokoyama, the Head of Ryu Ga Gotoku, openly acknowledged that the team still faces significant pressure. Yokoyama emphasized the studio's desire for the games to reflect contemporary trends. This means that any potential delays in release could result in the themes becoming outdated, thereby diminishing the desired impact they aim to achieve.
We're always rushing to get titles out in the Like a Dragon Series, and this is not because of loss of opportunity or profit, but because these are games that capture the moment. You can tell from the trailer this time around, but the game captures current trends, such as VTubers. If this were to be delayed for half a year, it could all end up being old news. And when you take into account that we have to anticipate all of this two or three years in advance, it’s even more frightening. We want our games to be out there at the moment they are relevant," shared Yokoyama.
Ryu Ga Gotoku, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
The studio's ability to maintain such a rapid pace is thanks to its efficient workflows, as explained by Yokoyama. This includes parallel development and the utilization of the same engine and shared assets across multiple games. To illustrate this approach, the studio dedicated six months to developing Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, a spin-off title, simultaneously with their work on Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Interestingly, the narrative involving Kiryu was initially intended to be a part of Infinite Wealth.
"There isn't a huge difference Between Like a Dragon Gaiden and Like a Dragon 8. By this, I mean that, in a sense, Like a Dragon Gaiden was derived from Like a Dragon 8. We could have just told of Kiryu's past through a thirty-minute interlude as part of Like a Dragon 8, but we decided it would be a lot more interesting as a game of its own, which is how the project came to be. Though this meant having a whole extra game to make, it still uses the same engine, so we thought 'It's not like we have to make it from scratch,' and decided to go with it. In the end, it took us about half a year to make it," said Yokoyama.
Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Previously, the studio had mentioned the possibility of switching to Unreal Engine, although it remains unclear if a final decision has been made regarding this shift.
Fans can anticipate the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on January 26, 2024, while Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is scheduled for release on November 9.
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