Like a Dragon Stories Will Continue to Focus on “Middle-Aged Guy Things,” Developers Say

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As a long-time fan of the Yakuza series, I find myself deeply intrigued and resonating with the direction Ryosuke Horii and Hirotaka Chiba have taken it in recent years. The shift towards telling more personal, everyday stories revolving around middle-aged characters feels authentic and relatable, given that these creators are, as they themselves admit, middle-aged men.

Initially, the Yakuza series centered on portraying tales of Japan’s criminal underworld, a focus it maintained for quite some time. However, more recently, the series has undergone a transformation. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the narrative shifted towards sharing intimate, everyday stories about middle-aged protagonists, a trend that its sequel, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, continued to emphasize. It appears this personal storytelling approach is the direction they’ll continue to explore.

According to Ryosuke Horii, series director, and Hirotaka Chiba, lead planner, who spoke with Automaton in a recent interview, the ongoing “Like a Dragon” series will keep narrating tales centered around themes related to middle-aged men.

They mentioned that since we’re of a certain age group too, it seems our focus will likely be on an audience similar to us.

Horii elaborated on how this specific element sets the series apart. “I believe that’s one of the key attractions in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. In this game, the story begins with three unemployed men in middle-age, who casually say ‘Let’s go to Hello Work.’ These characters have a distinct feel compared to a group of young heroes, expressing concerns like back pain. Yet, it’s this relatable ‘humanity’ from their age that makes the game feel fresh and unique.

In response, Chiba provided another scenario from the game, highlighting a moment when a character ponders the decision to consume beer due to concerns about their high uric acid levels.

“For instance, Adachi is in a quandary about whether to drink beer or not, as he’s concerned about his uric acid level,” he explained. “We seem to be defining ourselves by our middle-aged discussions, rather than our youthful spirit.

Horii further mentioned that despite the surge of new fans and diverse demographics for the “Like a Dragon” series, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio plans to continue developing their games in their traditional manner.

He expressed his joy and gratitude for the surge of new fans, particularly women, that our community has experienced recently. Yet, he emphasized that there are no intentions to alter the discussion topics artificially to cater to these newcomers. Doing so would restrict us from continuing our conversations about aspects such as uric acid levels… [laughs]

As a dedicated gamer, I can relate to what Horii means when he says the global success of the franchise doesn’t sway RGG Studio’s creative process. We, at RGG Studio, have always been focused on creating our own unique gaming experiences, and this international acclaim hasn’t changed that one bit.

Horii clarified that our approach to game creation remains consistent. We’re thankful for the appreciation we’ve gained from international fans and fresh, young enthusiasts. Yet, we won’t alter our strategy of designing games, as it stems from our own notions of what makes a game enjoyable.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is set to reveal their upcoming game towards the end of this month during the Tokyo Game Show. Keep an eye out for news about their future projects!

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2024-09-07 03:11