Yakuza 7 Officially Revealed, Taking The Series In New Direction

The next Yakuza game titled in the West as Yakuza: Like a Dragon has been revealed, and not only will the game be following a new protagonist other than main series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, but the title will also be employing a brand new style of gameplay.

This new mainline Yakuza entry won’t be featuring the standard beat-’em-up gameplay that the series has become known for, instead opting for a battle system that more closely resembles a classic JRPG. That’s not to say the combat will be directly comparable to something like Dragon Quest, with a “live command” system still retaining some of the pacing and intensity of the battles in previous games.

The setting and cast have also been changed with this new title. Gone are the streets of Kamurocho, as Yakuza: Like a Dragon is set in Isezaki Ijincho which is stated to be three times larger than Kamurocho. The new cast includes protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, a family member of the series staple Tojo Clan, and rival character Jo Sawashira, a member of the Omi Alliance.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is set to release in Japan on 16th January 2020, and later 2020 in the West for PlayStation 4.