Summary

  • Like a Dragon creator Toshihiro Nagoshi's new game will be an action-adventure and will enter the mass production phase for its assets soon.
  • The upcoming game will focus on quality and density in its world design, prioritizing a balance between map scale and gameplay fun, while integrating story and drama into the gameplay.
  • Nagoshi aims to create a fun, story-driven experience without overwhelming players.

Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of Like a Dragon, shared that the upcoming game from his new studio will be an action-adventure and is set to enter the mass production phase for its assets in the near future. The Like a Dragon creator also shared his perspective on the current video game scene and stated that he aims to create a fun game without too much hassle.

Toshihiro Nagoshi, known for creating the Like a Dragon series, played an important role in shaping it into a successful franchise. After leaving Sega in 2021 to start Nagoshi Studio, he began developing a new large-scale game project. His goal is to keep the character-driven storytelling that defined Like a Dragon, but according to him, this new game was going to be "more like a Quentin Tarantino movie." Recently, Nagoshi provided new insights into the upcoming game from his new studio.

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In an interview with Famitsu, translated by VGC, Nagoshi talked about his focus on crafting a game that balances a large, expansive world with meaningful gameplay. Although he remained somewhat tight-lipped on specifics, the Yakuza series creator shared that he’s carefully designing the game to bring an experience that doesn’t overwhelm players. Right now, he and his team are focused on resizing an originally oversized map to make sure it fits the game’s main vision.

Like a Dragon's Creator's New Game Will Be a Compact, Story-Driven Experience

Instead of filling the game with huge, empty spaces, Nagoshi talked about the importance of creating a world where every area feels meaningful and engaging. Their goal is to try to avoid emulating what many other popular huge AAA games already do today, offering instead a compact, story-driven environment where each location adds to the overall story.

Nagoshi also reflected on how the gaming industry has become focused on offering more and more content, overwhelming today’s gamers with massive open-world games. He pointed out that instead of just expanding the map for the sake of size, he wants to prioritize quality and density, creating a world that feels alive. "I think that in order to properly connect the scale of the map with the fun of playing, it is important to design the world view and explain what the player, as the protagonist, is doing in this world," he said. Additionally, he talked about how a game’s story and drama should be closely linked to the gameplay, something fans of Like a Dragon have appreciated in its character-driven plots and cinematic style.

I think that in order to properly connect the scale of the map with the fun of playing, it is important to design the world view and explain what the player, as the protagonist, is doing in this world.

As fans await more updates, it’s clear that Nagoshi is focused on creating an action-adventure that stays true to what made his previous work so special, while pushing the boundaries to offer a more modern gaming experience. Nagoshi hasn’t shared any potential release window but reassured players that the team is committed to creating a game that stands out in today’s competitive gaming scene.

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Yakuza: Like A Dragon Tag Page Cover Art

Yakuza: Like A Dragon
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JRPG
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
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Released
November 10, 2020
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher(s)
Sega
Engine
Dragon Engine
Franchise
Yakuza
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Genre(s)
JRPG
How Long To Beat
45 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
File Size Xbox Series
39 GB (November 2023)
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty