After the release of Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties earlier this year, RGG Studios brand new IP, Stranger than heavenis slated to be the developer's next major release. While waiting for Like a dragon 9 may be a little longer still, Snarrower than the sky will be the next best thing, carrying the torch for RGG's signature tale of crime drama and brutal beat 'em up combat. However, there may be a stronger connection between the two franchises than meets the eye, potentially Stranger than heaven up to be a cornerstone in the broader Like a dragon universe.
Not a ton of details have been shared Stranger than heaven so far, with RGG and Sega only drip-feeding fans updates on the game in the time since it was first revealed as “Project Century” at The Game Awards 2024. The latest Xbox Partner Preview showcase included a new trailer for Stranger than heavenwhich revealed the five eras and cities players will experience in the game. This new trailer makes that clearer than ever Stranger than heaven is secretly one Like a dragon game masquerading as a new IP.
Stranger than heaven gets a deeper dive in a dedicated broadcast coming May 6.
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Stranger Than Heaven is a Like a Dragon game in all but name
Although Sega and RGG Studio are unlikely to admit it, the more it shows Stranger than heaventhe more obvious it becomes that the game connects to Like a dragon franchise in a big way. It may not carry Like a dragon mention or introduce any of the franchise's iconic protagonists such as Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima or Ichiban Kasuga, but Stranger than heaven has all the characteristics of Like a dragon series. Brutal combat and detailed historical depictions of Japan's underworld across five eras provide Stranger than heavens main character, Mako Daito, the look and feel of a Like a dragon main character in that franchise's world, but the connection seems to be even deeper than that.
Stranger Than Heaven basically confirms that it's set in the Like a Dragon universe
A big detail is revealed in the latest trailer for Stranger than heaven are the five different cities across five eras where the game will take place. These eras include:
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1915
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1929
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1943 — Sotenbori
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1951
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1965 — Kamurocho
Although only two of the five cities have been confirmed, these are the two main locations for connectivity Stranger than heaven to Like a dragon. 1943 era Stranger than heaven will take place in Sotenbori, Osaka, the fictional version of Dotonbori that appears in games like Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 2and Yakuza: Like a dragon. The other dead giveaway it Stranger than heaven is set to Like a dragon universe is the presence of Kamurocho as the setting of the final era in 1965. Kamurocho is Like a dragons iconic fictionalized version of Kabukicho, Tokyo, and plays a key role in almost all of them Like a dragon game.
The other three places which Stranger than heaven will take players has not been confirmed yet, but based on the images shown in the latest trailer, there are a couple of outstanding options. A popular theory for the 1915 era is somewhere in Yokohama, such as Ijincho from Yakuza: Like a dragonor perhaps a new place like Kitakyushu, historically home to early yakuza clans. The 1929 era location looks cold, which probably puts it somewhere in Hokkaido, like Tsukimino, Sapporo, from Yakuza 5. The 1951-era city doesn't have an immediately obvious real-life comparison, but some believe it could be set in Japan's Gunma Prefecture.
Stranger Than Heaven is not the first non-LaD game set in the same universe
Like a dragons universe already extends beyond the games in the title series. The Judgment series has helped expand that world beyond the confines of the Tojo clan and its yakuza-centric storytelling while keeping the games in the same locations players are familiar with, such as Kamurocho in Judgment and Ijincho in Lost judgment. As such, it is likely that Stranger than heavens use of locations like Sotenbori and Kamurocho is a deliberate way to flesh out the same universe in a game that is anything but Like a dragon in name, and it would not be surprising to see earlier places from Like a dragon comics appear in other eras as well.
However alien the sky can connect to the wider like a dragon franchise
If Stranger than heaven is really a part of Like a dragon expanded universe, there must be a reason to keep its connection to the franchise hidden. One of the prevailing theories about Stranger than heavenpp Like a dragon the connection is that it will describe the founding of the Tojo clan. Even if Like a dragon the series has never delved into the early days of the Tojo clan's history, 1965 would be around the time when Makoto Tojo would have founded the criminal organization based on the succession of the Tojo clan chairman.
Another potential connection is that Stranger than heaven could tell the story of how the Daidoji faction was created. It is possible that Minoru Daidoji, the founder of the organization, may appear in Stranger than heaven since the organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II, which Stranger than heaventhe 1951 and 1965 era would cover. Perhaps Mako Daito gets entangled with Minoru Daidoji's embezzlement of military funding and ends up as one of the Daidoji faction's first fixers.
No matter how Stranger than heaven stops connecting to Like a dragonthe writing is very clear on the wall that this game will be a defining title for the majors Like a dragon universe. As more information comes out about the story of Stranger than heavenits connections to Like a dragon franchise is only likely to get stronger.
