Like a Dragon: Ishin! PS5 PS4 PlayStation

The Yakuza franchise, which will be known as Like a Dragon going forward, has experienced an explosion of popularity in recent years, and studio Ryu Ga Gotoku credits subscriptions services like PlayStation Plus and Game Pass for this success.

In a new interview with Twinfinite, Ryu Ga Gotoku director and executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama discussed the success the studio has found in recent years, noting that "personally, I do think subscriptions like Game Pass, allowing people to play the previous games over the years, have contributed largely to the increase in audience."

As the most devout fans of the franchise likely already know, all mainline Yakuza games will be available for players with a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription before the end of 2022, with most playable for those with PS Plus Extra subscription.

Yokoyama remains optimistic about the future of the franchise, reflecting that "more people around the world have been playing the Ryu ga Gotoku series over these past years, but I think we’re just getting started. Starting with Like a Dragon: Ishin!, which is still in development, I will continue to take game creation seriously so that people around the world will find a love for RGG Studio games."

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a complete remake of the 2014 title of the same name, released only in Japan, and will launch in the West on 21st February, 2023.

Have you taken advantage of the series' availability and gone back to play older titles via PlayStation Plus? What do you think of Yokoyama's comments? Let us know in the comments section below.

[source twinfinite.net]