Pirate Yakuza on Hawaii Side-Stepping One Infinite Wealth Controversy Is a Big Sign

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2024 saw Like a dragon: Infinite wealth take the spotlight as RGG Studio's darling of the year, but with a track record of quality games and minimal wait times in between, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii follows closely behind. With a February release date, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will echo many of Ichi's own adventures in Hawaii, using both old and new assets to create a compelling memoryless pirate story for series legend, Goro Majima.

In the wake of Infinite wealths controversial approach to DLC, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will take fans' concerns to heart and promises New Game Plus as a post-release update with no additional barriers to access. The decision creates a stronger precedent going forward, with an argument for consistency in the series' future main titles as well.

The insidious case of DLC has become something of a mainstay in the AAA world. With the rising cost of video game titles and the increased expectation to shell out money for more content, gamers have felt the fatigue of what in some cases can be considered unfair monetary practices. While DLC has its merits and more practical justifications, such as with cosmetics or expansions that add hours of gameplay to sift through, there comes a question of when paywall features go too far. In the case of Infinite wealthits Deluxe and Ultimate editions had obvious bonuses through Sujimon, outfits and even an extra dungeon, although its locking of NG+ along with these features left a bitter reception among fans.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Title Poster

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What to expect from Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii 2025

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sets sail in February, with fan favorite Goro Majima embarking on an all-new adventure on the high seas.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sets a stronger precedent for new gameplay and moves forward

Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload DLC Discourse

The discourse surrounding this decision led many to question why something like NG+, which has become its own mainstay in most modern titles, would instead be relegated to paid add-ons. In the wake of Infinite wealths own controversy a similar question was asked with Persona 3 Reloadanother Sega property, which asked players to purchase the game's Expansion Pass to access the episode Aigis 'The Answer' story content, which was released as part of its Wave 3 content rather than being offered as a standalone purchase. This kind of positioning for DLC has been its own point of contention for a while now, and while something like NG+ could technically be considered an extraneous feature (at least for titles that don't require multiple playthroughs to complete the story), it does the question of what is “bonus” content.

A focus on cosmetics in the Pirate Yakuza DLC

If anything, taking a mostly cosmetic approach to DLC feels like the right way to treat add-on content, and Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii seem to take this on board. The game will boast over 200 outfits for Majima to dress up in, with additional costumes available to those who purchase the game's Deluxe Edition. Pirate Yakuza is also generous with its pre-order and email bonuses, allowing fans to dress up as Ichiban or Kiryu, even in the standard edition of the game. The Deluxe Edition's “Legendary Outfit Pack” lets Majima don the styles LAD7 crew along with Kiryu's Infinite wealth outfit, Tomi's purple Hawaiian shirt and Daigo, Saejima, Akiyama and Nishiki's iconic outfits.

In addition to Majima's plethora of fashion options, Pirate Yakuza's Deluxe Edition will include an additional Karaoke and CD pack (presumably allowing Majima to listen to songs while out on the open road and sea), a Ship Customization Pack featuring Kiryu, Ichi and Daigo's tattoos which should affect the pattern of the ship's sails, and finally a “Legendary Pirate Crew Pack”, which should have the most bearing on actual gameplay. No great pirate can sail without a crew, and this pack will give Majima the ability to pass Like a dragon faces to his entourage, some more wholesome than others. The likes of Kiryu, Daigo, Yuki, Ono Michio, and Nugget the Chicken will be available through this pack, but so will Shimano and Sagawa, should players wish to further torment Majima.

The LAD series' approach to DLC is moving forward

Total, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiis approach to DLC seems to confirm that fans' concerns have been heard, although it remains to be seen whether NG+ will continue as a base game for series titles going forward. LAD Gaiden didn't have an NG+ of my own, so this might actually be a turning point, at least in the case of more Like a dragon spinoffs. Hopefully this extends to the series' main titles as well, but for now, fans can rest easy knowing that the wait for Pirate Yakuza will soon be over, letting Majima take on the battle once more.

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