Twenty years ago, working on Yakuza was something developers hid from their loved ones. The series about Japanese organized crime, brutal street fights, and morally gray antiheroes carried such a stigma that studio staff wouldn’t tell their parents or girlfriends they were involved. Fast forward to 2024, and Like a Dragon (as the series is now known globally) has become so respected that working on it helped one developer get their partner’s parents to approve their marriage. That dramatic transformation defines RGG Studio’s incredible 20-year journey.
In a new interview with PlayStation Blog celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary, Executive Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama, Chief Director Ryosuke Horii, and Chief Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto reflected on how far the series has come. Their candid responses reveal a franchise that grew from shameful secret to cultural phenomenon, all while maintaining the weird charm that made it special in the first place.
From Hidden Shame to Marriage Approval
Yokoyama’s reflection on the series’ reputation shift is fascinating. “Maybe people can finally say they enjoy the Like a Dragon series more openly,” he admits with a laugh. “In the past, it wasn’t something you could really say out loud. Its reputation and brand image made it hard to talk about publicly.” The early games featured organized crime families, extreme violence, and adult entertainment districts as core settings. In Japan’s conservative corporate culture, that wasn’t exactly resume material.
The turning point came about ten years into the series. Staff began proudly acknowledging their work. One developer’s involvement in the project actually helped them gain approval for marriage from their partner’s parents. That anecdote perfectly captures how mainstream acceptance transformed the franchise from guilty pleasure to legitimate cultural property. What changed? The games themselves stayed weird, violent, and uncompromising. What shifted was cultural perception as audiences realized these games told genuinely compelling human stories amid the chaos.
Today, RGG Studio has grown into a recognized brand. The team now includes over 10% international staff, and the gender ratio sits at nearly 50:50, a dramatic change from the 90% male, almost entirely Japanese team that started the franchise in 2005. Yokoyama notes this diversity naturally influenced their creative output, exposing them to global culture through streaming platforms that didn’t exist when Yakuza first launched.
Making Games at Breakneck Speed Without Breaking Quality
RGG Studio has earned a reputation for impossibly fast development cycles. They release major titles almost annually without the quality collapse that usually accompanies that pace. How? Sakamoto credits workflow perfected over two decades. “Our team takes pride in refining quality while eliminating unnecessary tasks and consistently pursuing the most efficient approach to development,” he explains. That awareness of quality, scale, time, and cost makes their achievements possible.
The series’ commitment to modern settings adds complexity. Yakuza games typically take place in their year of release, requiring constant research as entertainment districts like Kamurocho change dramatically. Sakamoto notes this presents unique challenges for mainline titles set in the present day, though spin-offs have more creative freedom. Keeping fictional locations grounded in real-world evolution gives the games authentic texture that players recognize even if they’ve never visited Japan.
Passing the Torch From Kiryu to Ichiban
Replacing Kazuma Kiryu as protagonist after six mainline games was risky. Kiryu defined the franchise for 15 years. Making Ichiban Kasuga the new lead in Yakuza: Like a Dragon could have alienated longtime fans. Sakamoto admits he was never worried. “I trusted that by the time players reached the end of the story, they’d grow to like Ichiban,” he says. The confidence comes from understanding the series’ fundamental strength: if players connect with a character’s personality, anyone can take the lead.
That philosophy extends to the entire cast. The games prioritize character development and emotional authenticity above everything else. Whether you’re controlling a stoic ex-yakuza or an enthusiastic ex-con who sees himself as a Dragon Quest hero, the writing makes you care. Ichiban’s earnest optimism and dorky enthusiasm created a completely different energy from Kiryu’s world-weary honor, proving the franchise could evolve beyond its original protagonist.
The Method Behind the Minigame Madness
Like a Dragon games are famous for absurd minigames. You can manage hostess clubs, build resort islands, race pocket cars, play full arcade classics, sing karaoke, and engage in shareholder battles where “apology” is a finishing move. Horii explains the creative process starts with the main story’s concept and setting. Everything else flows from there to deepen immersion.
In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Ichiban’s theme of rising to the top led to the business management feature. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s Hawaiian setting inspired Dondoko Island resort building. Each minigame reinforces the core narrative rather than existing as random distractions. The team presents concepts to the minigame development team with weekly trial and error cycles, always preserving signature Like a Dragon humor. Those absurd moments, like turning shareholder meetings into RPG battles, are crafted with meticulous care.
For retro arcade inclusions, technical director Itō leads discussions on which classic Sega titles to feature. It’s not simply picking favorites. Porting old games involves technical hurdles, licensing concerns, and feasibility within development timeframes. The team prioritizes games they genuinely love and want modern players to experience, with many staff members being passionate retro game collectors themselves.
Yakuza Kiwami 3: More Than Just a Remake
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties launches February 12, 2026 on PlayStation 5. Horii promises changes that go “far beyond what most people might imagine.” While the core story remains the same, they’ve added numerous new cutscenes, characters, and voice lines. Major side content like Life at Morning Glory and Legendary Baddie, Bad Boy Dragon completely rework the game’s pacing and structure.
This isn’t just a visual upgrade. It’s a fundamental redesign of a 15-year-old game using everything RGG Studio learned since. Horii describes it as standing on its own as a brand-new release rather than simply updating textures and models. Even players who experienced the original Yakuza 3 will find a fresh experience. For newcomers, the game includes story recap features for previous titles, allowing anyone to jump in without prior knowledge.
Yokoyama clarifies they haven’t committed to remaking more past titles. RGG Studio’s mission is creating games that are fun to play in the present moment. Their philosophy of “do whatever it takes to make it happen” guides decisions. Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties feature elements pointing toward the series’ future direction, making them relevant beyond nostalgia.
Looking Forward Without Sentimentality
When asked about 20th anniversary reflections, the responses were surprisingly unsentimental. Horii spent nearly half his life making Like a Dragon games, treating each entry like it could be the last. He pours everything in without worrying about what comes next. That approach served him well, focusing on craft rather than legacy. “All forms of entertainment will come to an end someday,” he notes pragmatically.
Sakamoto echoes this forward momentum. Twenty years feels impossible to believe, but they’ve devoted themselves so completely to each game there’s been no time to reflect. Pushing the IP further requires evolution and embracing new challenges. Yokoyama admits he doesn’t feel particularly sentimental either. His focus stays on looking ahead and creating games every day.
The 20th anniversary events gave Yokoyama a rare chance to view the series from a fan perspective. That reflection renewed his appreciation for the franchise’s lasting appeal. The studio envisions the celebration as a coming of age ceremony, similar to how someone might reflect on years from birth to adulthood. Events including The Four Ceremonies of Life Exhibition in Tokyo will continue until December 7, 2026, keeping the series in fans’ hearts for years to come.
FAQs
When does Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties release?
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties launches on PlayStation 5 on February 12, 2026. The package includes both an extreme remake of Yakuza 3 and all-new story content.
Can I play Yakuza Kiwami 3 without playing previous games?
Yes, Kiwami 3 includes story recap features for previous titles allowing newcomers to jump in. However, playing Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, and Kiwami 2 will help you connect more deeply with characters and story.
Why did Yakuza developers hide their work from family?
The series’ focus on organized crime, violence, and adult entertainment districts carried social stigma in Japan. Developers worried about reputation damage, keeping their involvement secret from parents and partners in the early years.
How did the series become more accepted?
About ten years into the franchise, cultural perception shifted as audiences recognized the games told compelling human stories. One developer even gained marriage approval from their partner’s parents based on their work on the series.
Will RGG Studio remake more old Yakuza games?
RGG Studio hasn’t committed to remaking additional past titles. Their focus is creating games that are fun to play in the present moment, with decisions guided by their “do whatever it takes to make it happen” philosophy.
How does RGG Studio release games so quickly?
The studio perfected workflow over 20 years, eliminating unnecessary tasks while refining quality. Strong awareness of quality, scale, time, and cost allows them to maintain their impressive development pace.
What Like a Dragon games are on PlayStation Plus?
At the time of the interview, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name were available on PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.
Why are Like a Dragon minigames so weird?
Minigames are designed to align with each game’s story theme and setting. The team prioritizes preserving signature Like a Dragon humor while deepening player immersion in the narrative and world.
From Shame to Pride
The Like a Dragon franchise’s 20-year journey mirrors gaming’s broader cultural evolution. What was once considered too embarrassing to discuss publicly became respected enough to impress potential in-laws. That transformation didn’t happen because the games became more mainstream or sanitized. They stayed weird, violent, and uncompromising. What changed was society’s willingness to recognize that video games could tell mature, emotionally resonant stories about flawed people navigating impossible situations. RGG Studio never chased trends or compromised their vision. They kept making the games they wanted to play, trusting that quality and authenticity would eventually find their audience. Twenty years later, they were right. The developers who once hid their involvement can now proudly claim they helped build one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. And somewhere out there, a developer’s in-laws are probably bragging about their son working on those cool yakuza games.