Summary
TheLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthdirector, Ryosuke Horii, said in an interview that the team plans to continue making games focused on middle-aged men and won’t be changing their approach to game development. Additionally, he acknowledged that although the audience forLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthhas grown, the team has no intention of making changes to cater to new players.
TheLike a Dragonseries has built a loyal fanbase over the years because of its gripping stories, exciting combat, and deep dive into Japanese culture. While the series originally focused on Kazuma Kiryu and his life in the criminal underworld, things shifted with the introduction of Ichiban Kasuga. This change brought new narrative depth, especially with the switch toturn-based combat inYakuza: Like a Dragonin 2020. Now, withLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the series keeps evolving while staying true to what fans like about it, and its director has no plans to change the formula.
In a recentinterview with AUTOMATON,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthdirector Ryosuke Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba explained that the series’ unique focus on “middle-aged guy things” comes from their own experiences as middle-aged men. The two creators said they won’t change their approach, even thoughtheLike a Dragonseries’ audience is getting bigger and more varied. Horii and Chiba are excited about the new players joining the fanbase but made it clear that they won’t change the series’ distinctive features to appeal to a wider audience. Instead, they plan to stay true to their creative vision, which dives into the everyday challenges of their characters, like dealing with back pain or talking about health issues such as uric acid levels.
Like a Dragon Series Director Plans to Keep Focus on Older Protagonists
Keeping the focus on older protagonists is a big part of what makesLike a Dragonstand out amongother highly popular RPGs. The developers liken playing the series to “chilling out with older guys in a bar,” which is a refreshing change from the high-energy, youthful adventures found in many other games. They believe that highlighting the realities of middle-aged life, with its mix of humor and human vulnerability, gives the series its unique identity.
Kasuga deals with issues like unemployment inInfinite Wealth, which makes for a deeply personal and relatable story. Horii and Chiba believe that this kind of storytelling, where the characters' struggles are grounded in real-life concerns, helps players form strong connections with the game’s world and its characters.
Even with the new additions, the heart ofLike a Dragonremains the same: it continues to center on middle-aged men, their friendships, and the unique, sometimes everyday aspects of their lives. For players who enjoy this focus, there’s plenty more to look forward to in futureLike a Dragongames.
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
WHERE TO PLAY
EPIC EMOTIONAL DRAMATwo larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister…Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who’s no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down his last days.BEST-IN-CLASS RPG ACTIONExperience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. Adapt your party’s skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves.INFINITE ADVENTURELive it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at your leisure.
