Like a Dragon 8has a significantly increased amount of attention on it compared to theLike a Dragonfranchise’s many other installments. With the involved characters and narrative of the release being such a big step for the IP, fans are waiting with great anticipation for any further updates from Ryu Ga Gotoku as to what exactly the game will entail.
While the anticipation surroundingLike a Dragon 8is palpable, the lack of current information regarding the title and its vague 2024 release date may run the risk of losing fan attention over time. With this in mind, it seems imperative that Ryu Ga Gotoku uses the recent launch of the high-profileLike a Dragon: Ishinand the IP’s spike in popularity to release further details for its next mainline release.
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The Recent Launch of Like a Dragon: Ishin
Like a Dragon: Ishinrecently launched on February 21; it’s a remake of an obscure yet cult-classic prior installment in theYakuzafranchise calledRyu Ga Gotoku: Ishin, which released in 2014. The original game was only available in the Japanese market, with no English localization of the release being made available for Western audiences before this year. The unique setting and gripping story ofIshinled to a demand for a Western release of the title, and fans waited for almost a decade before finally seeing their wish come true.
Ishinsees the most popular andiconic characters of theYakuzafranchisebe thrown into 1800s Japan with new identities. The game tells the story of real-life Samurai Sakamoto Ryoma during a period of intense geopolitical conflict in Japan. The long-awaited release ofLike a Dragon: Ishinwas met with huge amounts of anticipation, and Ryu Ga Gotoku should capitalize on this hype given the many upcoming projects that are in development for the franchise.
Using Ishin’s Success For Like a Dragon 8
WhileIshinis a momentous release that was a long time coming in the eyes of many, it is no secret that the near-future of the franchise holds some much larger and even more ambitious projects. For example, 2023 is also set to see the release ofLike a Dragon Gaiden:The Man Who Erased His Name, which tells the story of long-time protagonist Kazuma Kiryu between the events ofYakuza 6andYakuza: Like a Dragon.
More importantly, however, is the upcoming release of the franchise’s next mainline title,Like a Dragon 8. Set for a release window of 2024,Like a Dragon 8will be the first mainline franchise title to release in four years, and thus the way it is received by fans holds a tremendous amount of importance.Like a Dragon 8was announced in September 2022, revealing that the game will continue the story of Ichiban Kasuga while featuring the surprise return of Kiryu in a dual protagonist role.
Practically nothing else has been revealed regarding the title since this date, leaving many fans wondering what exactly the game will entail. There’s still likely over a year untilLike a Dragon 8releases, so it is important that Ryu Ga Gotoku times announcements well to keep fans engaged. With this in mind, the recent upturn in discourse surrounding the IP thanks to thelong-awaited release ofLike a Dragon:Ishinis a huge benefit, and any further details ofLaD8should be released soon to make the most of this. As so many more players are currently engaged in the wider franchise,Ishinhas presented Ryu Ga Gotoku with an opportunity that is too good to pass up.
Like a Dragon 8will release in 2024 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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