The Yakuza series is no more -- not because it's ending, but simply because, going forward, the series' title will be officially changed to Like a Dragon.
Speaking with Digital Trends recently, a representative for SEGA of America confirmed that future titles in the series formerly known as Yakuza will now be titled Like a Dragon. This trend began with the seventh game in the series, titled Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and will continue with the forthcoming Like a Dragon 8, which will be the first game in the series to drop the Yakuza supertitle entirely.
According to the SEGA representative who spoke with Digital Trends, the name change comes as part of an effort to bring the English localization of the series closer to the original Japanese version. In Japan, the series has always been called Ryū ga Gotoku, which literally translates to Like a Dragon. When the first title in the series made its way to the West, SEGA and developer RGG Studio (named for the original game) elected to change the title to Yakuza to reflect the criminal undertones of the franchise.
The Like a Dragon subtitle was added to the series in the United States with Yakuza: Like a Dragon in 2020. In addition to bringing a new title to the series, Yakuza: Like a Dragon also introduced a new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. Ichiban will return in Yakuza 8, and he'll be joined by long-time series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Ichiban and Kiryu will act as dual protagonists, and players will have the opportunity to play as both characters.
The Like a Dragon series name has also wormed its way into the titles of a handful of franchise spinoffs. Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin!, a Japan-only prequel to the series, is receiving a remake featuring the game's first-ever English localization, and the title has been translated as Like a Dragon: Ishin!, adopting the series' new English title. A brand new spinoff focused on Kiryu's time away from the spotlight, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, was also recently announced. The Judgment spinoff series, comprised of the game Judgment and its sequel Lost Judgment, has not adopted the series supertitle.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is coming to PlayStation 4 and 5 on Feb. 21, 2023. The first seven Like a Dragon games can be played under the Yakuza title on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. The same is true of series prequel Yakuza 0.
Source: Digital Trends