SEGA’s Yakuza franchise has always had a penchant for goofing off, but the latest entry in the series, the Goro Majima-centric spin-off Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, pushes the limits big time. Everything we’ve learned about the game so far spells complete madness, with Majima participating in mass naval battles, playing cursed violins to summon man-eating sharks mid-battle, spawning shadow clones, and visiting the fictional island of Madlantis.

While it may seem like the Like a Dragon team has completely done away with realism in pursuit of an off-the-rails pirate adventure at first glance, this isn’t quite the case. AUTOMATON recently had the opportunity to talk to RGG Studio’s key members at the Majima Maji Festival held in Osaka, Japan, and they had some interesting insights of offer about their latest project.

According to RGG Studio’s director Yokoyama Masayoshi, players should actually expect to be greeted by a rather serious Goro Majima, especially in the earlier stages of the game, before he becomes a pirate. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s producer, Ryosuke Horii, further added that “Becoming a pirate is not the goal in itself – there are several objectives, and the game depicts a passionate progression towards those goals, as well as the deepening of Majima’s bonds with his friends. The goofing off isn’t the main point – there’s a manly drama at the center of things. Of course, there are some crazy parts to take detours to, but overall, I think it’s a straightforward tale about a passionate man.”

On the topic of Majima’s reality-bending abilities, Horii says that the balance between realism and spectacle is something the team generally does keep in mind. However, certain aspects of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii made them go past their limit. “If we did things in a plain way in a game that features pirates, it would come across as boring. Thus, we made the game wilder, while maintaining a serious and proper drama.”

Another factor that contributed to the new spin-off’s unprecedented level of wackiness is its protagonist, according to Horii. “There is a kind of uniqueness that can only be pulled off with Majima and isn’t possible with Kiryu. So, if we didn’t take proper advantage of that, there would be no point in having Majima as the main character. That’s why we blurred the lines of reality a little more than we would with Kiryu, hoping to offer players rich action that’s full of variety.”

So, aside from a serious, chivalrous story and crazy detours, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises next-level action. Yakuza fans already have high expectations based on what’s been showcased in trailers (especially those naval battles), but the series’ chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto raises the bar even higher, commenting, “We made Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii so that it evolves upon the action in Like a Dragon Gaiden, while also taking advantage of Majima’s quirks. As a result, I think we’ve made the most exhilarating action game in the series. The fights are super entertaining, and there’s lots of replay value.”

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is scheduled to release on February 21, 2025 for the PC (Steam), PS4/PS5 and Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S.

The full interview in Japanese is available on AUTOMATON Japan.