Sega’s next Like a Dragon game, the one that will bring back Yakuza hero Kazuma Kiryu, was officially revealed Thursday at Summer Game Fest, with a Nov. 9 release date. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will see Kiryu come out of hiding after having faked his death, reimagining him as a gadget-powered secret agent who will clean up the streets like Sotenbori’s friendly(ish) neighborhood Spider-Man.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name details were revealed ahead of a planned livestream from the series’ developer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
“Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu, operating under the codename ‘Joryu.’ Once a legendary yakuza, he faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family,” Sega said in a news release. “Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Thrilling sub-missions will draw you into an epic showdown that unfolds the more you explore and enjoy Sotenbori and Yokohama.”
Kiryu will have two fighting styles in The Man Who Erased His Name: Yakuza and Agent. The former will let players “strike fear into enemies by unleashing wildly aggressive moves powered by Kiryu’s unparalleled strength and flair.” The new Agent style will let Kiryu deliver “blows with absolute speed and precision, while using an array of high-tech gadgets like electrified bind wires to stun enemies then send them flying.”
So when I said Kiryu is basically Spider-Man, it wasn’t because I have Across the Spider-Verse wedged deeply in my brain. Look:
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The rest of the description promises the kind of varied and violent entertainment one has come to expect from the Yakuza and Like a Dragon games, while teasing a bit of mystery:
Whether you’re brawling in the secret Castle arena, singing a new karaoke song, enjoying a drink at the live-action cabaret club, or racing in the pocket circuit, the world offers a variety of immersive experiences.
An intriguing informant named Akame also provides thrilling sub-missions, drawing you into an epic showdown that unfolds the more you explore and enjoy Sotenbori, Yokohama and the mysterious Castle.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will be a return to the real-time brawling action of the classic Yakuza games, which was downplayed in favor of a turn-based, role-playing game-like structure for the Like a Dragon franchise. Last year, RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama said The Man Who Erased His Name will be “about half the size” of a mainline title in the series. It won’t be entirely linear — players will still be able to “go to town, hang out and do side quests,” he said. But it will be “easy to play, not too long, not too heavy.”
The next, next game in the series, Like a Dragon 8, which will co-star Kazuma Kiryu and Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Ichiban Kasuga, will be released sometime in 2024.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will be released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Update: This story has been updated with new details from Sega’s official announcement.