In case it wasn't already clear from the fresh announcements of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Like a Dragon 8, SEGA is dropping the 'Yakuza' name from its long running franchise.
Of course, the Yakuza games have never been called Yakuza in Japan. Over in its home nation, Yakuza as a series is called Ryu Ga Gotoku — which is where developer RGG Studio gets its name from — which, when translated into English, is Like a Dragon. Like a Dragon, then, is the new global name for the property.
Yakuza itself came about back in the PS2 era, when many Japanese publishers and their Western arms were always looking to Westernise their products. 'Yakuza' fit the bill because it put an emphasis on the games' crime drama aspects. Grand Theft Auto was a big deal back then as well, remember.
The Yakuza name has stuck until now, and it's honestly strange to see it go. 'Yakuza' as a brand has continued to grow in popularity over the years, especially with the likes of Yakuza 0 and, more recently, Yakuza: Like a Dragon being big hits for SEGA outside of Japan. Like a Dragon doesn't quite have the same ring to it — at least not yet — but the publisher will be hoping that it quickly catches on.
What do you make of this change? Are you sad to see Yakuza go, or is Like a Dragon a better fit for the series going forwards? Be your own dragon in the comments section below.
Comments 33
That explains why they were using "like a dragon" during the stream. I already knew about the Japanese name of the series and the studio name, but it wasn't clear the name change for the western games was a thing as well. It is going to confuse a lot of people. WIth the name change itself i'm fine, its still the same game series no matter what you call it. I wonder if they going to change it for the older games as well or if they keep it like it is now and try to make it clear for consumers it's the same series but with a different name.
Like a Dragon I feel is a better name for the series, especially in relation to Kiryu. It will feel weird without it being called Yakuza though.
Without wishing to spoil it does make sense due to the events of yakuza 7: like a dragon. Itl still get the love it deserves
Yakuza really is like a Dragon Warrior
Er…I mean Like A Dragon really is like a Dragon Quest.
I don't mind this. Still odd that they named Like a Dragon 7; Yakuza: Like a Dragon then name the next one Like a Dragon 8. After Yakuza 6 they should have just named the seventh Like a Dragon 7. Like a Dragon... a lot of Like a Dragon in my post. At least we can call it LAD... LAD is about lads doing laddy things
I am a relatively new fan of the series, and I'm all for unifying it with the Japanese title, a bit like when they sorted out the numbering regime for Final Fantasy.
It's the best time to do this, after Ichiban's first game merged both titles in the west and dissolved the main yakuza clans during the storyline.
Kiryu was not an actual member of the yakuza for the immense majority of his whole saga's playtime and neither was Ichi in his own game, so the title was always a slightly off by-product of trying to appeal to western markets via oversimplification. Like a Dragon refers to something much more overarching (the protagonists' way of life) and it's far more relevant thematically.
Yakuza aren't even the only major strand of organized crime in the series, anyway. They've shared the spotlight with Chinese triads, Korean mafias, white collar criminals and more from as early as the first and second games.
Makes sense if you're aware of the history of the franchise. Trying to explain this to a Westerner who's new to the series is another story....
I feel like RGG Studio using the Like a Dragon name here in the west is like a transition for the series.
I miss the Yakuza name but I understand why they are dropping it, makes sense.
Btw @ShogunRok, hate to be nick-picky and not implying I don't believe you or anything but where is the source link for this?
I'm so used to referring to it as Yakuza that it's going to take some time for Like A Dragon to stick. I get that's what's it known as in Japan but Yakuza does roll off the tongue better. I'll do my best though.
@Coolmusic All of the official PR we've received from SEGA has no mention whatsoever of 'Yakuza', so we agreed that it's safe to assume the name has been dropped. All of the official English trailers, press kits, and other media is the same.
If we hear otherwise, we'll obviously update this article, but yeah... It's Like a Dragon now. No idea if this will impact previously released Yakuza games, but I doubt it. Would require rebranding, new artwork, etc. You never know, though!
Just unify the brand. They could have done it after the last story ended. But I guess made sense as a launch pad for "Like a dragon"
They can call it "A videogame for PS5 #2272" and I would buy it.
Like a Dragon just sounds weird even if it's the literal translation
I hope it's retroactive for re-releases too. I wanna play Like A Dragon: Like A Dragon Remastered.
@ShogunRok: Alright, thanks for the reply!
Just give me LAD 2 already. I’m dying to play more of Ichiban’s journey ;~;
I am sure it will confuse alot of people like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons.
Yakuza is such a cool name, but I'll get used to Like A Dragon quickly enough.
@WillMerfi Totally agreed! Would have made for a good send off and a great way to compartmentalise the different series, especially as the latter look more to being a traditional rpg, in terms of gameplay.
Good. I only liked Like A Dragon from them.
@CapGod you sound redundant.
I'm pretty new to the series. I tried out Yakuza 0 and another earlier game and didn't like them at all. But I still gave the one titled Like a Dragon (7?) a try, and I'm loving it. Its a lot of fun, and I really like the tone compared to the others.
So while I don't really care what its called, I'm hoping that future games feature the gameplay and style of the newest one, and not the dark and overly cinematic features of the others.
@rvd4
Must be the title
So we had Yakuza: LAD that was actually YAKUZA 7 But played nothing like a YAKUZA game
Now we have
LAD 8 & LAD ISHIN & LAD GAIDEN That play like the original YAKUZA style...??? UGH
They chose a longer name that has nothing to do with the style ppl know? So does LAD 8 play like the good original style or the watered down dragon quest garbage that YAK7 was?
I bet they HAD to change the name because Kiryu is going to be in games going forward but dont want to get rid of the YAK7 engine. So to make it easier on them, (Not us) everything will be LAD like it is for Japan since the PS2 era.
TBH the transition to this was sudden, selfish and sloppy thus confusing. It's like Nintendo all of a sudden making games that feel like Gran Turismo and still calling it Mario Kart.
Great turn based game, keep it up!
@rvd4 I'd imagine 8 is going to be turn based like 7.
Or, and I just thought of this, dual protagonists Ichi and Kiryu with the Ichi sections turn based and Kiryu sections traditional beat-em-up....
I don't like the name change, but what the end of the day, as long as the game is good, it doesn't really bother me.
Doesn’t bother me as I always personally refer to it as RgG and only use Yakuza to talk to others.
Figured as much given the live stream. I like continuity but it is what it is.
Since yakuza 7 came out I can only see the franchise going down hill because the turn based gameplay is trash! 😑 the storyline was really good but the gameplay not so much its a shame
I had no clue during the State of Play that LAD: Ishin! Was related to the Yakuza games. It's confusing af
It'll take awhile for me to get used to the new name, but at the end of the day it's just a name lol.
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