Summary
- Sega filed a new trademark for Yakuza Wars, hinting at a possible new game in the popular Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise.
- The franchise is expanding with a TV series on Amazon Prime Video, starring original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in an all-new story.
- It is unclear if Yakuza Wars will be a mainline game or spinoff, but Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios has said the next entry in the series will surprise fans.
Sega filed a new trademark called Yakuza Wars, which was recently made public. The title hints at a new Yakuza game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, a Sega subsidiary. Its last game was Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in January this year. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has been releasing a new Yakuza game or remake almost every year, so it's unsurprising if it's already gearing up for the next title in 2025.
Sega is sparing no effort to boost the Yakuza franchise, nowadays also known as Like a Dragon. In June, a Like a Dragon: Yakuza TV series was announced, set to debut on Amazon Prime Video on October 25. The series will star Kazuma Kiryu, the original main protagonist of the Yakuza games, in a total of six episodes. However, it will feature an original story that promises to capture the essence of the games and, eventually, spark interest in other Yakuza franchise products.
So, when Gematsu reported that Sega had filed a Yakuza Wars trademark, it hardly surprised anyone. The trademark was registered on June 26 in Japan but only became public yesterday. The Yakuza Wars trademark was filed under the video game category, confirming it's related to a game and not other Sega services. This trademark registration, plus Sega's promise to announce the next Yakuza game at this year's TGS, makes it hard not to think that Yakuza Wars could be the name of the next installment in the franchise.
Sega Files the Yakuza Wars Trademark
It's worth noting that while everything points to a new Yakuza game, it's unclear whether it's a mainline entry or a spinoff. The franchise has more spinoffs than mainline titles, each with its own peculiarities and protagonists. Judgment, for example, tells the story of private detective Takayuki Yagami but still maintains the same beat 'em-up gameplay. Like a Dragon: Ishin is set in the Late Edo period, between 1853 and 1867 in Japan, while Like a Dragon Gaiden continues Kiryu's story after he left the mainline series. Still, it's possible to find connections between the Yakuza spinoffs, showing that everything takes place in the same universe.
Ultimately, Yakuza Wars could be many things, from the subtitle of the next Like a Dragon to a parallel game in a different genre. Interestingly, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios promised that the next Yakuza installment would surprise fans. When Yakuza: Like a Dragon was released in 2020, players had strong opinions about shifting from a beat 'em up gameplay style to a traditional turn-based RPG. Still, it showed that Ryu Ga Gotoku isn't afraid to take risks and innovate when it comes to the Yakuza series.
Sega's Yakuza franchise is a series of action-adventure and role-playing games that revolve around characters who are a part of or associated with dangerous criminal organizations.
The various games in the series tend to be led by gripping, emotional narratives but are supplemented by hilarious side stories and enjoyable mini-games that give players a welcome break from the drama.