Among all the studios looking to make an impact in 2027, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is first up, with its newest IP, Stranger Than Heaven. We’ve seen a lot from the action-adventure title, from the many eras that it spans to the combat system and even the shocking inclusion of the late Tupac in a role.
All in all, it’s shaping up to be a large game. In fact, studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama notes that the story ended up longer as the team continued development. Speaking to Automaton Media (translation via DeepL) about the overall scope, he said, “We haven’t measured it precisely, but I think it’s turned out to be quite substantial. The main story, in particular, is very extensive. It just ended up getting longer as we were developing it.”
However, when compared directly to the Yakuza series, he said the maps are “roughly the same scale.” “We didn’t artificially make the maps for each historical era larger or smaller, so they each have their own distinct size. The number of buildings with interior spaces you can actually enter has increased compared to the Yakuza series. However, given the historical setting, there are no skyscrapers or similar structures. Therefore, I believe the overall scale remains comparable.”
However, he reinforced that Stranger Than Heaven is a “completely new title” with UI, controls, and combat that are “entirely different.” That also extends to the kind of experience fans would typically be used to. For instance, side stories will play out differently, perhaps hinting at their more serious nature.
Play Spots return, but once again, they’re rooted in the specific era. “Elements like ‘Play Spots’ are fewer in number, reflecting the historical setting. After all, we haven’t done any corporate tie-ins like in the Yakuza series,” says Masayoshi, laughing.
Launching on January 15th, 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, Stranger Than Heaven is about Makoto Daito, who stows away on a ship to Japan after the death of his mother. Along the way, he meets the likes of Orpheus (played by Snoop Dogg) and Yu Shinjo, whom he’ll have continued run-ins with throughout the era, especially when they get into the music business together.
