Summary
- Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii releases on February 21, 2025, a week earlier than expected.
- The game stars Goro Majima as a pirate lord in an arcade-action beat-em-up style.
- The release date was moved up due to the game's smooth development and to allow fans to play sooner.
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have announced that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be launching a week earlier than expected: February 21, 2025. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a brand-new spin-off game in the long-running Like a Dragon franchise, being another project in the style of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii stars the fan-favorite Goro Majima as its protagonist, with the former yakuza having washed up on a beach with no memory of his previous life.
In true Majima fashion, the Mad Dog of Shimano becomes a pirate lord and recruits his own crew, as he finds himself in the middle of a pirate feud. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's gameplay goes back to the series' original arcade-action beat-em-up style, as opposed to the turn-based JRPG genre of the mainline titles starring Ichiban. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii also takes place six months after the recently released Infinite Wealth, as stated in its announcement trailer. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii recently got another trailer, which not only highlights the story and combat, but also reveals its new release date.
Following this trailer, Like a Dragon series director, Masayoshi Yokoyama, commented on Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's new release date. Yokoyama touched on some of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's new combat mechanics, as well as how the release date has been moved up by a week to February 21, 2025. According to Yokoyama, this change was made mainly due to development of the game progressing much smoother than expected, but also because the developers want fans to play the game soon. Yokoyama also teases how players will be able to play "what comes after it" with peace of mind, implying Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii might be connected to another game in the future.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's Release Date
- February 21, 2025
Originally, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was going to launch on February 28, 2025. Other games set to release in Feburary 2025 include Monster Hunter Wilds, which is set to launch on the Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's original release date. Some fans joked that Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii being moved up a week ahead of schedule was done so that gamers could play both games within the same timeframe, though Yokoyama didn't comment on Capcom's title in the video.
The naval combat trailer for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii briefly touched upon some of the gameplay, such as ship building, and characters that will be appearing in the story. Some of the characters that Majima will encounter include a returning Taiga Saejima, Madlantis Leader Queen Michele, and the Pirate King Raymond Law, who is modeled after former WWE and AEW champion Samoa Joe.
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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
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
