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Yakuza 8 is now Like a Dragon 8 and it’s getting a Kiryu spinoff prequel

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Ryu Ga Gotoku and Sega have revealed that Yakuza 8, now officially titled Like a Dragon 8, will launch in early 2024 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It’ll feature the return of Kazuma Kiryu, whose appearance will be explained in a new spinoff title: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

The game will star both Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. This time around Kiryu sports a new, gray hairstyle. According to RGG, this will be the largest game in the series to date. It will feature turn-based RPG combat again and it seems like Kiryu will have his own party to romp around with.

Like a Dragon 8 | Announcement Trailer

RGG also announced a spinoff game, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S as well. This will launch in 2023 and show events following Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and leading up to Like a Dragon 8. RGG says that it will be roughly half as long as a typical game in the series and will features a more “classic” Yakuza experience which most likely means it’ll be an action-adventure brawler.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name | Announcement Trailer

Following yesterday’s announcement of Like A Dragon: Ishin! during the September State of Play presentation, RGG announced a February release window for the game. Now, the studio confirmed that it will launch on February 21, 2023.

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It also seems like Sega is dropping the “Yakuza” moniker from the franchise going forward and going with “Like a Dragon.” The latter name is a more accurate translation of the franchise’s Japanese name, as series creator, Toshiro Nagoshi felt that dragons provoke the feelings of strength the series is known for.

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George Yang
George Yang
George Yang is a freelance games writer for Digital Trends. He has written for places such as IGN, GameSpot, The Washington…
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will make you cry tears of laughter and sorrow
Two Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth heroes perform a tag team attack.

Before I got into the Like a Dragon series (or Yakuza, as it was still known at the time), I watched from the sidelines with bewildered curiosity. I assumed it was a simple crime game, but every once and a while, I’d catch a wild clip of a goofy cabaret minigame or impassioned karaoke performance and realize I knew absolutely nothing about the series. I finally learned about its eccentric, soap opera glory with 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, but I can’t imagine how those still looking in from the outside will react to everything I’m about to write about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

A few months back, I was invited to a marathon hands-on session that had me playing several hours of the upcoming RPG. It seemed like overkill on paper, but after 90 minutes, it became clear why Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio had insisted on showing off such a sizable chunk of hands-on gameplay. In a series known for its flurry of creative gameplay swings, Infinite Wealth is already, by far, the most unpredictable installment yet.

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You have to see this chaotic Like a Dragon-themed wrestling match
Kiryu punches an enemy in Yakuza style in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

You HAVE to see this! LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN STREET FIGHT presented by Sega! | 11/15/23 AEW Dynamite

In a surprising partnership, Sega teamed up with All Elite Wrestling on Wednesday, November 15 for a Like a Dragon-themed wrestling match. It was every bit as chaotic as you're probably imagining.

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All Master System game locations in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
The castle in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

The Like a Dragon series absolutely loves including old Sega titles within the series. In past games, these typically were kept at the various Sega arcades around the different maps, but for Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, times have changed and Kiryu can now play some classic games from the past in the comfort of his own hideout. The downside to this, though, is that you have to track down all the individual games if you want to play them. There are a total of 12 different retro games from the old Master System. While you only need to play five to earn the Retro Gamer trophy/achievement, you do need to find and try out all 12 to complete the log in the Akame Network fully. No need to write down passcodes or call a hotline for tips, here's where you can grab all the Master System games in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
All Master System game locations

You can't access the Master System in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name until you get to Chapter 3. At this point, you will have access to your hideout and can enter the room on the west side with the controller icon to find a storage room with a little CRT and Master System. Make sure you actually play each game at least once after collecting them to fill out the log and get your trophy/achievement.
Alex Kidd Miracle World
Take a stroll down Castle Central Street and stand outside the Gambling Hall. On top of one of the pink umbrellas is a grab prompt to snag this cart.
Flicky
Over in Sotenbori, go along the W Sotenbori Footpath on the north side of the river. Once again, keep an eye out on top of the umbrellas opposite the water for a grab prompt.
Galaxy Force
For a simple, and actually logical, way to get your hands on a Master System game, go to Ebisu Pawn on E Shofukucho Street. Galaxy Force will be on sale for just 5,500 yen.
Quartet
Time to get your gambling skills up to par at the Castle casino. Play whatever game you like until you save up 2,500 chips to buy Quartet from the exchange desk.
Enduro Racer
The next set of games is tied to finding specific locker keys, a staple collectible in the Like a Dragon series. For Enduro Racer, you need to get locker key I4, which is on the southeast corner of the Sotenbori River. From the Bishamon Bridge, look to the right for a tree on the upper part of the path along the bank. There will be a grab prompt here to snag this key. Use it on its associated locker to get the game.
Fantasy Zone II
Next, we need to hunt down locker key F4. This one is down south of W Shufukucho Street in the narrow gap between the Gambling Hall and the building next to it. You can fit in but will get the grab prompt as usual.
Alien Syndrome
The final game kept in a locker is Alien Syndrom, which needs the F1 key. This key can't be picked up until at least Chapter 3 when you gain access to the Daidoji Hideout. Once you do, go into the entrance and the key will be lying in the hallway.
Global Defense
The final key is another easy one. In the Castle, go into the Gambling Hall and rack up 2,500 or more points however you like. Take them to the exchange desk and you can get yourself the last Master System game.

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