The Tokyo Games Show is just around the corner, and we expect that many Japanese games will be announced or provide updates on their development status at the event. However, some have chosen to make their announcements ahead of time to stand out and capture the spotlight for themselves. At least, that seems to be what Ryu Ga Gotoku, the studio behind the Yakuza games, wanted to do. Today, they’ve given us a new trailer and the release date for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
As part of the popular Yakuza franchise, now renamed Yakuza: Like a Dragon, this is the eighth numbered installment in the series—or the ninth if we count Yakuza 0. In this game, as we’ve known since its announcement at the previous E3, it will be the first time in the franchise that we travel outside of Japan, as at least part of the game will take place in Hawaii. The game’s protagonists will be Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the classic Yakuza titles.
Along with a story trailer for the game filled with spoilers, they’ve added a list of the entire game’s cast. While most of the names will only be familiar to fans of the franchise, and to those not familiar, mostly just to the Japanese audience, there are two names on the list that will catch the attention of Western audiences as well. One is Dwight, portrayed by Danny Trejo, and the other is Masataka Ebina, played by Daniel Dae Kim. These are two very famous actors with long careers and highly recognizable roles, making it quite intriguing that they appear in the game’s cast.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will be released on January 26, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Digital pre-orders for the game are already open in various stores.