Jokes Are Over, Like a Dragon Devs Officially Mentioned New Installment, But It Won’t Be Kiwami 3
Developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have confirmed that another game in the Like a Dragon series is being developed. However, it won't be Yakuza Kiwami 3.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is already working on the next installment of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. We learned about it because the devs announced auditions for roles in this game.
- It wasn't stated what exact roles the developers wanted to fill, but it was announced that they would be similar to the hostess casting for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This implies that regular fans, not just professional actors, will have the opportunity to compete for a role in the game.
- The developers also emphasized that the new project isn't Yakuza Kiwami 3, i.e. a remake of some older installment of the series (probably Yakuza 3, because this installment could benefit from a solid refresh). However, the devs are convinced that sooner or later Kiwami 3 will be developed.
The news that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is already working on the next installment of the series isn't a surprise. Since 2017, the team has released at least one game a year. Recently, the developers have been very active, releasing as many as three titles in twelve months (Like a Dragon: Ishin in February 2023, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name in November last year, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in January 2024), so we will probably have to wait a while for something new from this studio. We would be very surprised if there isn't another game from the team premiering next year.
Although the auditions were announced on April 1st, it's not a joke. Japanese developers approach April Fools' Day differently. That day, they occasionally disclose real news, and many of the jokes published on that day later prove to be true (just consider the 2019 video showing the turn-based combat system, which was eventually implemented in Yakuza: Like a Dragon).
