Summary
- A March 2025 update for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii addresses a bug that prevented players from gathering all seven Golden Balls in a popular side quest.
- The update also addresses some typographical errors and localization issues, along with numerous other stability and quality problems.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has released a new update for March 2025 that will make one of the game’s trickiest side quests a little easier. The latest Like a Dragon spin-off once again puts players in the role of Tojo Clan lieutenant Goro Majima, who now turns to a life of piracy after losing his memory and washing up on the shores of a small island near Hawaii. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza allows players to sail the high seas, battle rival pirate clans, and build a formidable crew of allies to help search for buried treasure.
In true Like a Dragon fashion, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii also features several side activities and colorful bonus quests for players to take part in as they work through the game’s primary storyline. One of these side quests calls back to 2023’s Like a Dragon Gaiden by tasking Majima with finding seven Golden Balls that are scattered across Honolulu and Madlantis in exchange for having a wish granted. However, doing so is easier said than done, as a bug prevented one of the Golden Balls from being obtained until now.
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This issue has been fixed thanks to Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s 1.12 update patch, which is now available to download. According to the official patch notes from developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, one of the many fixes this update provides includes the glitch that stopped Majima from getting his hands on one of those Golden Balls, though it doesn’t specify which one in particular was affected.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Update Makes Golden Balls Quest Easier
The latest Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii update patch also fixes an issue that prevented players from saving their game manually at certain points, and also addresses a bug that caused the player to fall into the ocean if they loaded a save file from the bridge of a ship. Other fixed glitches include Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza arcade game rankings not being saved, various typographical errors and localization issues, and numerous other stability and quality hiccups.
A couple of the patch’s fixes only apply to the PC version of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, such as one that corrects a rare crash that happens during resource loading. Another random driver crash is still being investigated, but for now, the developer is advising players to switch their graphical setting over to the 60 FPS option if they are frequently experiencing this problem.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza 1.12 Update Patch Notes (March 2025)
All Platforms
- Fixed an issue where manual saving was not possible.
- Fixed an issue where loading a save data on a ship under certain conditions would cause the player to fall into the sea and be unable to return.
- Fixed an issue where the golden ball could not be obtained.
- Fixed an issue where arcade game rankings were not being saved.
- Corrected various typographical errors and improved localization issues.
- Various other bug fixes to improve stability and quality.
PC Version Only
- Updated to Intel XeSS 2.0.1.
- Fixed a rare crash issue that occurred during resource loading.
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The cause of random driver crashes on certain NVIDIA GPUs is still under investigation by the GPU vendor. It has been confirmed that setting a frame rate limit to 60 FPS reduces the likelihood of crashes. If you are experiencing frequent crashes, please try this solution.
- Go to Settings > Graphic Settings > “Set FPS to 60”
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- February 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
WHERE TO PLAY
A new legend begins as you step into the steel toe boots of Goro Majima, a man who has lost his memory and reinvents himself as a pirate on the open sea.
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure with an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain and his crew as they engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea in the hunt for lost memories and a legendary treasure.
PIRATE YAKUZA ADVENTURE AHOY!
Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER
Assemble a one-of-a-kind crew while upgrading your ship as you explore the open sea and forge your legend in the cannon fire of foes, unexpected friendships, and immense riches made along the way.
When an enemy pirate ship catches you in their sights, an exhilarating real-time cannon battle breaks out. Quickly maneuver into position while avoiding fire, then deliver devastating damage to board the enemy ship and take down the captain in all-out crew vs. Crew brawls. Conquer the seas, discover hidden islands and acquire loads of loot like a true yakuza pirate!
KICK ARRRSS WITH CREATIVE COMBAT
Dynamically switch between the “Mad Dog” and “Sea Dog” fighting styles to mix-up attacks and deliver explosive combos, juggles, and aerial takedowns that reward your creativity with over-the-top action.
With “Mad Dog” style, utilize speed, agility, and flair to deliver precise yet powerful blows that stun your enemies into submission. Or make enemies walk the plank with the “Sea Dog” style that has you dual-wielding short swords and deploying tricky pirate tools to kick some serious booty.
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 21, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 45.03 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
