Though we’ll likely see more gameplay at today’s RGG Summit Summer 2023, studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that Ryu Ga Gotoku 8 is still the official name in Japan. It didn’t opt for a subtitle since it felt that one “simply isn’t enough.” “Which character and point of view in this complex, intertwined storyline do you think you’ll most closely relate to?”

That answer could change based on “which of the past titles you have played”, and fans may even provide a “subtitle of your own” on completing the game. While Infinite Wealth is subtitled as such for fans in the West who began their journey with Kasuga in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the concept of infinity is “deeply tied to the themes of the latest installment.”

The studio has had this subtitle in mind since last year’s teaser, which featured the symbol for infinite around Kiryu and Ichiban. “What does Infinite Wealth mean? Is there really such a thing? We are all eagerly awaiting the day you’ll be able to find out for yourself.”

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is slated for early 2024 and is coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC. It launches on day one for Game Pass.

We’d like to share a message from Masayoshi Yokoyama, Director of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

Thank you for your continued support of the Like a Dragon franchise!

We look forward to you playing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.#LikeaDragon #InfiniteWealth pic.twitter.com/82045mugg4

— RGG Studio (@RGGStudio) June 15, 2023

Last year’s RGG Summit saw the developer unveil several upcoming projects, including Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the remake of 2014’s Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin!, which was released earlier this year. It also announced Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. The side story focuses on Kazuma Kiryu after the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life leading up to Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

It also sets up his role in Like a Dragon 8, the next mainline title in the series (which features the return of Ichiban Kasuga). Perhaps we’ll get a release date for it and Like a Dragon Gaiden to go with some new gameplay. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details.

https://twitter.com/RGGStudio/status/1662792394733961217

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild absolutely blew people away with its fantastical openworld of Hyrule filled to the brim with interesting dungeons to explore and tough beasts to best in battle. Fans have been craving for a sequel for some time now, and thankfully – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is on its way to quench that thirst. Nintendo has expanded this playground of possibilities with new additions like floating islands in the sky, the ability to warp through walls and so much more which should make this a worthy sequel. It will be released for Nintendo Switch on 12 May, 2023.

Forspoken

Okay, so the recent demo ranged from intriguing with its magic and movement abilities to downright painful with its writing and barren world. But there’s still plenty of potential in Forspoken, Luminous Productions’ upcoming action RPG. Following Frey Holland, as she attempts to defeat the once-benevolent Tantas of Athia and return home, a lot of magic is available to wield and plenty of unique areas to explore in the main game. Plus, the visuals look nice and should shine even more when HDR has been fixed. Releasing on January 24th, 2023, for PS5 and PC, Forspoken is a PlayStation-console exclusive for the next two years. Here’s hoping it lives up to expectations.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

It’s a cliché to say it, but Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of next year’s biggest games. It’s also probably the biggest PS5 exclusive without a shadow of a doubt, even with big names like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth coming up. However, with Miles Morales and Peter Parker featured and Venom finally debuting (with his voice actor promising the game will be “massive”), it may not be the most controversial take. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is launching in Fall 2023 exclusively for PS5. Brace yourself, though, because it’ll be darker than the previous games.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Not confirmed for next year (unless you ask Microsoft. No, really), but still significant is Marvel’s Wolverine. Compared to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which should build on its predecessors, we know nothing about the gameplay. However, the announcement trailer showed Logan ready to fight in a familiar location on Madripoor island. Game director Cameron Christian of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales fame are in charge, so maybe it’s another open-world action-adventure game. Either way, it’s currently in development as a PS5 exclusive.

Dead Space

Isaac Clarke’s slow descent into madness begins anew when the remake of Dead Space arrives on January 27th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, courtesy of Motive Studio. Along with massively upgraded visuals, the remake features the Peeling system for chipping away layers from enemy limbs and the Intensity Director for 1200 random terrifying events.

The sound FX for weapons have been revamped, and Isaac Clarke is fully voiced, with Gunner Wright returning to reprise the role. That’s only the tip of the iceberg in changes, with numerous new rooms, Zero-G sections that now feature Dead Space 2’s mechanics, and much more. Nevertheless, everything we’ve seen thus far seems to point to it retaining the essence of what made Dead Space so horrifying.

If you’re looking for a compelling sci-fi survival horror and were disappointed by The Callisto Protocol, maybe Dead Space will fill that void. Maybe make you whole.

Deliver Us Mars

Following up on the space adventure title Deliver Us the Moon (if the name wasn’t a clue), Deliver Us Mars sees astronaut Kathy Johanson traveling to Mars with the Zephyr and its crew. The group Outward has stolen the ARK colony ships, and your job is to get them back, lest humanity becomes even more endangered. There’s exploration, platforming and puzzles as players attempt to survive the harsh conditions of Mars while appreciating the ray-traced shadows and reflections on offer. Deliver Us Mars is coming to Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on February 2nd, 2023.

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an action RPG set over 100 years before the first Harry Potter book, developed by Portkey Games and Avalanche Software. As a fifth-year student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the player character can use ancient magic and possesses a secret which could have consequences for the wizarding world. While you learn more about these things, you’ll attend classes, brew potions, customize the Room of Requirement to your liking, engage in duels.

Hogwarts Legacy is out on February 10th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, while the PS4 and Xbox One versions arrive in April and the Nintendo Switch version in June.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! is finally getting a remake with Like a Dragon: Ishin!, out on February 21st, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Developed on Unreal Engine 4, you play Sakamoto Ryoma (no relation to one Kazama Kiryu) in 1860s Japan as he seeks vengeance against the one who killed his master.

Join the Shinsengumi in Kyoto as Saito Hajime during the “Bakumatsu” and use four combat styles, slicing enemies with a sword, shooting them with a gun, a mix of both, or just using your bare fists. You even have crazy abilities like energy blasts and black holes. Kiryu may not kill people, but Ryoma is a whole different matter. Again, no relation.

Since this is Ryu ga Gotoku, you have tons of Substories and activities ranging from karaoke, fishing, vegetable shopping and traditional dance to running a restaurant and Jan-ken-pon.

Like a Dragon 8

Like a Dragon: Ishin! looks great and all, but what about brand-new games in the franchise? What about Ichiban Kasuga, the hero of Yakuza: Like a Dragon? Cue Like a Dragon 8, starring both Kasuga and Kazama Kiryu, though you’ll still have various allies to back you up. It’s a turn-based RPG and promises to be the biggest game in the series. Very little else is known, even the reason behind Kiryu’s new look, but it’s coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC in 2024.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

As you probably noticed, Kiryu’s hair undergoes some changes in Like a Dragon 8. To help players understand why, while also detailing events surrounding the Dragon of Dojima from Yakuza 6 to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, there’s Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Releasing in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC, it starts with Kiryu living a seemingly secluded lifestyle before indulging in some “manual labor.” It’s roughly half the size of a regular title, but there’s a town to explore, side quests to complete, and much more. How important it will be to the overall story remains to be seen, but it looks great.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

PlayStation VR2 launches on February 22nd, 2023, and should be the next big step in console VR gaming. Though it has over 20 launch titles, Horizon Call of the Mountain is undoubtedly the highlight. Developed by Guerrilla and Firesprite Games, it stars a new character, Ryas, a former Shadow Carja. After his actions in the previous games, he’s looking to regain his honor and is a master climber, fighter and Machine hunter. The action takes place from the first-person perspective, but Ryas will use familiar weapons like the bow and combat Machines like the Bellowback, Thunderjaw and Stormbird. Thus far, it’s looked gorgeous, while the combat appears fluid.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Frogwares is releasing a remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened in February 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson embark on a harrowing adventure, investigating disappearances. Players will investigate clues and piece everything together, but Sherlock’s insanity will also dip further into insanity as time goes on. With an expanded story, improved visuals and animations, and about 15 hours of playtime, it should be a worthwhile mystery for fans of the series.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Nioh meets Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice with some Dynasty Warriors sprinkled on top – that’s sort of what Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is going for with its combat. Set in the Three Kingdoms era with iconic heroes, mythical beings and fantastical monsters, it’s a faster, more vertically-paced take on the action RPG genre from Team Ninja.

The push and pull of parrying and attacking to reduce your enemy’s spirit, opening them up to powerful blows while using magic and building Morale flows pretty nicely. At over 40 hours and some potential end-game content, it could be your next Souls-like fix when it launches on March 3rd, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

As the follow-up to The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, Trails to Azure continues the story of the Special Support Section, led by Lloyd Bannings. While all is well after saving KeA and stopping the D∴G cult, other figures seek to use the former for their ends. The sequel features two team members, Noel Seeker and Wazy Hemisphere, and a customizable police car for getting around.

Releasing on March 14th, 2023, for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch in English, it also features revamped visuals courtesy of PH3 and should have the same quality-of-life features. With how significant the Crossbell arc has been to the overall Trails lore, it’s great to finally have both games available worldwide, especially en route to the release of Trails of Reverie.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

As the sequel to the massively successful Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor takes place several years later. Cal Kestis returns, older and stronger but also pushed to the brink by the Empire. Armed with new Force abilities, Cal will also have five Lightsaber stances. You can wield two Lightsabers in Dual Blade stance, or execute heavy attacks with Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber. Want a bit more oomph and blaster fire? There’s a stance that combines a Lightsaber’s slices with a blaster.

Along with encountering new characters and unlocking new traversal methods like mounts, players will battle against new enemies, explore larger biomes with challenges and hidden rewards, and much more. There’s even a planet new to the Star Wars universe which serves as a central providing ground.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is out on March 16th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and will support ray tracing and faster loading times.

Resident Evil 4

Before it became the action-heavy survival shooter we know and love, Resident Evil 4 was a moodier, scarier game. The upcoming remake, launching on March 24th, 2023, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, seems to channel that darker tone while enhancing everything about the original game. Along with “modernizing” the graphics and updating the controls, Capcom is looking to “reimagine” the story while maintaining its essence. Whatever that may mean, you’ll still be fighting for your life against Los Illuminados, with new moves like blocking and deflecting chainsaw strikes with your trusty knife. Resident Evil 4 will also support PlayStation VR2 at launch for even more immersive thrills.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

For all of the big games releasing in 2023 and beyond, you have to remember: Few of them can match the hype surrounding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As the sequel to Breath of the Wild, it features a new story and gameplay elements like floating islands (with Hyrule Castle itself seemingly levitating). Link can soar from these islands, use new abilities, and even has some snazzy armor. What’s going on? Why does Zelda have short hair? What new threats and adventures await? We’ll find out when it launches on May 12th, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.

Silent Hill 2

After years of rumors and skepticism, Konami finally unveiled its plans for the Silent Hill franchise, including a remake of Silent Hill 2 developed by Bloober Team for PC and PS5 (where it will be exclusive for 12 months minimum). Composer Akira Yamaoka and creature designer Masahiro Ito also return, lending their talents to the remake.

Unreal Engine 5 has been used for development with revamped combat and set-pieces, no loading screens, and support for the DualSense. A release date still has to be announced, but the developer did reveal that it’s been in the works since 2019 and reaching late production. Even if it doesn’t arrive next year, it won’t be long before we dive back into the mind of James Sunderland and experience the twisted horrors of Silent Hill once more.

Diablo 4

Following the aftermath of Diablo 3, humanity fends for itself against the legions of Hell, spurred by the return of Lilith. Choosing one of five classes – Druid, Rogue, Necromancer, Barbarian, and Sorceress – players venture the world, hacking and slashing demons while leveling up and gaining better loot. Diablo 4 is out on June 6th, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, and is a lot more open than its predecessors, with camps to liberate, dungeons to explore, Skill Trees to go through, and Paragon Boards to figure out.

With more customization in the form of runes, runewords, new attributes, and seasonal powers, there’s a lot in store. Of course, there’s plenty to be skeptical about, what with the always online requirement and microtransactions (which aren’t used to buy power, but that statement is open to interpretation after Diablo Immortal). Then there are the reports of Blizzard having to crunch to meet the release date. Time will tell how it pans out.

Final Fantasy 16

There is so much about Final Fantasy 16 worth looking forward to, whether it’s the hack-and-slash combat system, the world design, the massive Eikon battles, or just the overall presentation. The story centers on Clive Rosfield, living peacefully with his brother Joshua. He grows up and seeks revenge, battling against the Dominants of Valisthea’s various nations, each with their own Eikons. It’s a dark fantasy epic with a distinct vision and vibe, and releases on June 22nd, 2023, for PS5.

Baldur’s Gate 3

The years of waiting leading to the announcement of Baldur’s Gate 3 seemed agonizing until we had to wait several more years for its launch out of early access. Nevertheless, it’s finally out in August 2023 for PC and represents Larian Studios’ most ambitious role-playing game ever. Set over 120 years after the second game, it sees the player kidnapped by Mind Flayers and implanted with Illithid Tadpoles.

Upon escaping with other survivors, they must find a way to remove the Tadpole. With its reliance on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules, there are numerous classes and subclasses to enjoy, an extensive amount of skills and spells to play with, and all kinds of insane choices to make. Whether it lives up to the massive hype or not, Baldur’s Gate 3 is something special.

Alan Wake 2

Announced at The Game Awards 2021, it’s been more than a year since we’ve seen Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2010 classic. It’s leaning much more into survival horror and is still in third person perspective, with Remedy’s Northlight Engine used for development. Not much else is known, save for it being on track for release in 2023 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S, but new players can jump right in without playing the previous entries, so that’s a plus.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has moved steadily away from its stealth origins after, well, Assassin’s Creed Origins. But Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings it back, front and center, focusing on Basim as he goes from street thief to joining the Assassin Brotherhood in ninth-century Baghdad. Players will parkour through the four districts and partake in classic “Black Box” assassinations, searching for the best way to take down targets. It’s only 15-20 hours, and after how gargantuan the recent entries have been, that sounds wonderful. Mirage will retail for $50 in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Amazon Luna.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Whatever your opinion of the movies in general, what little we’ve seen of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora looks promising with Massive of The Division fame in charge of development (in collaboration with Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney). Exploring the Western Frontier as a Na’vi, players fight back against the RDA in this massive open-world action-adventure for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Amazon Luna. Compared to The Division, the gameplay is in first-person, and despite taking place in the same universe, it’s a standalone story. It’s all very intriguing, but rumors of troubled development, which may have caused the title’s delay to 2023-2024, have been circulating. We’ll probably get a better idea of its state heading into next year.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s next big title veers away from fantasy into sci-fi and revisits the cult-classic Armored Core series. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon takes place on Rubicon 3, a planet laid to waste after a mysterious substance was discovered and caused a cataclysmic disaster. That same substance has re-emerged, and as a mercenary, you’re smack-dab in a conflict between corporations and resistance groups over it.

Like its predecessors, Armored Core 6 is focused on mech customization and tuning different parts to your liking. There isn’t an open-world structure. There’s no campaign co-op, and this isn’t a Soulsborne-type game, despite having intense boss battles. Regardless, the aesthetic and giant robots look positively amazing. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon releases in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Remake remains one of the best games of 2020 and a dream come true for fans. However, it was also the start of a brand new story, where previous characters’ fates would change. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the next part, releasing in Winter 2023 exclusively for PS5 (a necessity due to its SSD, as per the developer). The first trailer saw Cloud walking side by side with Sephiroth, and the developer recently confirmed that Zack has an “active role” after the last game’s conclusion. Even with no details yet on gameplay changes, locations, and whatnot, we can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios’ next magnum opus, its first new IP in more than 25 years, and arguably the biggest Xbox Series X/S exclusive yet – many of these things describe Starfield. The story is set in the 24th century, 20 years after a war between the United Factions and Freestar Collective, with the player joining the space exploration group Constellation.

While their overarching role has yet to be revealed, the sense of freedom – with over 1000 planets to explore, several major cities to explore, and much more – is still reminiscent of Bethesda’s previous titles. That’s not even factoring in the mining, spaceships (with full customization), various NPCs, companions, factions, and much more. One could argue that it’s almost too ambitious, especially given its delay to the first half of 2023. Nevertheless, it’s an RPG to watch out for when it arrives for Xbox Series X/S and PC next year.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

GSC Game World returns to the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone again with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. All the usual tropes, from mutants and anomalies to other S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, are present, and there’s a massive open world to explore. You can ply your trade, collect and sell artifacts, or investigate the Exclusion Zone and learn more about the state of the world. There are over 30 weapon types with several ways to modify them, various factions, and a non-linear branching story.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is slated to release in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Some felt that the ending of Trails of Cold Steel 4 ending wasn’t a fitting conclusion to the Erebonian saga. Trails into Reverie remedies this, presenting an epilogue with three main characters – Rean Schwarzer, Lloyd Bannings, and C – each with unique story arcs. You can switch between them at any point while indulging in different side stories for the massive cast. Brave Orders and Arts return, and the new United Front system offers even more ways to defeat enemies. There’s also the True Reverie Corridor, which features randomly generated dungeons and mini-games. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie releases July 7th, 2023, for PS4, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC.

Layers of Fears

Along with Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team is working on Layers of Fears, the third title in its psychological horror series. It’s about the “stories of artists enslaved by their obsessions” and casts a “new light on the overarching narrative.” Except for the Painter’s Spouse from the first game potentially being the main character, very little has been revealed about the story. However, it’s developed on Unreal Engine 5 for 4K, HDR, ray tracing and Lumen’s immersive lighting. Layers of Fears is out in early 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Death Stranding 2 (Working Title)

Yes, actor Norman Reedus said it’s coming, and yes, the various teases of new characters with “who”, “what”, “where”, and “how come” were weird. But the reveal of Death Stranding 2 (currently the working title) was something else entirely, from Fragile attempting to escape a battlefield with a baby to having a ship with the Drawbridge logo on it and conversing with an older-looking Sam Bridges. It also seems that Higgs is making a return, judging by Troy Baker’s inclusion, and we wouldn’t have our masked-wearing weirdo rocking out any other way. Death Stranding 2 is coming to PS5, but no release window has been confirmed.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Following the underwhelming Gotham Knights, there’s some concern about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, especially following the departure of Rocksteady founders Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker. The action-adventure title is due on May 26th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It features Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang as the protagonists as they fight against various superheroes – including Batman, in Kevin Conroy’s final role – who have been brainwashed by Brainiac.

Though it has a four-player co-op, solo play is also possible, and you can switch between each character while the AI handles the others. Brief gameplay snippets have looked promising, but here’s hoping we get an extensive deep dive soon.

Hades 2

A sequel to Supergiant Games’ amazing rogue-lite dungeon crawler is a complete surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. The story sees Underworld princess Melinoe, venturing beyond Hell to explore a “bigger, deeper mythic world” with new locations and slay Kronos. Olympus again lends its might in the form of Boons, but there will be other upgrade systems like the Arcana Altar and the ability to tame witch familiars.

Perhaps most appealing is that the story will once again evolve based on your success and failures over multiple runs with dozens of fully-voiced characters, from familiar faces like Zeus to newcomers like Apollo and Nemesis. Hades 2 will go into early access for PC on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with more details to come in 2023.

Lost Soul Aside

Of the many titles coming to PlayStation as part of the China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside looks the sharpest. Revealed in 2016 by solo developer Yang Bing for PS4, it immediately caught our attention with its fast-paced combat and stellar visuals. All these years later, UltiZero Games is involved while Sony serves as the publisher, and a PS5 release is confirmed.

The gameplay looks to have leaned into an action-adventure vibe with high-speed set pieces as protagonist Kazer is seemingly on the run from various forces after merging with Arena, a dragon-like symbiont. A release date still hasn’t been confirmed, but Lost Soul Aside is worth keeping on your radar.

The Witcher 1 Remake

In this age of remakes and remasters, it’s surprising that it took this long for a remake of the first Witcher game to be greenlit. Developed by Fool’s Theory, a studio founded by veteran Witcher developers with CD Projekt RED’s creative supervision, The Witcher Remake is a “modern reimagining” of the first game, developed from the ground up on Unreal Engine 5. It will also be an open-world game title, which is a significant departure from the original. Get comfortable, though, since it’s currently in the early stages of development and won’t release until after the next mainline Witcher title.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Initially, Hornet was to be a playable character in Hollow Knight, but the increased scope of the DLC has resulted in a proper sequel. Announced in February 2019, Hollow Knight: Silksong will be released by June 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Featuring a new kingdom to explore, a unique play style with Silk, over 165 enemy types, and a quest system, it looks gorgeous in terms of visuals, style, and gameplay. The wait has been long, but hopefully, finally, we’ll get to play it next year.

Assassin’s Creed Codename Red and Codename Hexe

The developer finally announced that its next mainline Assassin’s Creed title, Codename Red, would take place in Feudal Japan. Players will finally get to play as a shinobi, though very little is confirmed about the story, how it will play, etc. It’s developed by Quebec and raised some concerns due to director Jonathan Dumont being accused of bullying and abuse, so time will tell how that works out. There’s also Codename Hexe, rumored to be set in 16th-century Central Europe during the witch trials. Montreal is leading the development, and it’s reportedly going quite well, though more details are needed.

Grand Theft Auto VI

A new GTA game is on its way, Rockstar Games finally confirmed what has been rumored for years. In an official statement, it noted that, “With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we’ve previously delivered. We’re pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway. We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.” According to reputable sources like Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and insider Tom Henderson, the sequel will be a “moderately-sized” game and it would feature multiple protagonists and will be set in Vice City.

The Next Witcher

The next Witcher title is in development on Unreal Engine 5 and is currently under pre-production as “Project Polaris.” The story, premise and gameplay are still under wraps, but it will build on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s legacy and has over 150 developers on board. It’s also an open-world RPG that marks the start of a new Witcher trilogy. After Polaris launches, two more Witcher titles will be released within six years afterwards. That may sound like wishful thinking, but the appeal of a brand-new Witcher is undeniable.

Cyberpunk Sequel “Project Orion”

Cyberpunk 2077 is also getting a sequel, currently dubbed Project Orion, which will prove “the full power and potential of the Cyberpunk universe,” as per CD Projekt RED. It’s developed by CD Projekt RED North America in Boston with core team members, like lead quest designer Paweł Sasko, moving over. However, it will also receive support from the head studio in Poland and CD Projekt RED Vancouver, requiring about 350 to 500 developers like the first game. Either way, it’s going to be a long wait.

The Witcher “Project Sirius”

CD Projekt RED has a lot of Witcher projects in development. So what’s one more? Developed by The Molasses Flood of Where the Water Tastes Like Wine and Drake Hollow fame, Project Sirius is in pre-production with CD Projekt RED providing support (and over 60 developers). Again, not much is known, but it promises an “innovative take on The Witcher universe” which will present an “unforgettable tale for existing Witcher fans and new audiences.” Whatever that may mean, the narrative should be interesting, going by the developer’s previous work.

Rise of the Ronin

Team Ninja has delivered some stellar action RPG action with Nioh and looks to go even further with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. In the longer term, however, it’s venturing into open-world gameplay with Rise of the Ronin while maintaining its fast-paced action RPG combat. Set in late 19th century Japan during the Bakumatsu, it’s a period of unrest and civil war with the anti-Shogunate factions fighting the Tokugawa Shogunate. You play a Ronin, a masterless samurai equally skilled with katanas and firearms. You’ll meet various characters and can decide who to side with. It’s all up to you, but what choices those consequences will have remains to be seen. Rise of the Ronin launches exclusively for PS5 in 2024.

Pikmin 4

If you ever lament the long development period of any video game, remember that Pikmin 4 was said to be “very close to completion” in 2015. It was put on a “lower priority” in 2016. In September 2022, the developer finally confirmed that the real-time strategy game would launch in 2023 for Nintendo Switch. The Bulborb returns, and a new playable astronaut character has been confirmed. That’s all we know, so hopefully, next year will offer more details.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Following the release of Maiden of Black Water for new consoles, Koei Tecmo confirmed that Fatal Fame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse would launch on March 9th, 2023, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. The location is Rogetsu Island, Japan, where five girls went missing a decade prior. When two are found dead in the present day, the remaining three – Misaki, Madoka, and Ruka – return to investigate and learn the truth (since their memories were missing after being rescued).

The island is abandoned, with many inhabitants dying after a mysterious catastrophe, and hostile spirits roam free. As you collect articles and notes to learn more about the past, the Camera Obscura wards off the spirits. In addition to improvements with lighting, shadows, and character models, the new release also sports a Photo Mode. It’s no Fatal Frame 2 but Mask of the Lunar Eclipse should make for a fun atmospheric horror.

Witchfire

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking about whatever happened to The Astronauts, developer of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, rest assured – it’s still working on Witchfire. Announced The Game Awards 2017 as a dark fantasy shooter, it evolved into a rogue-lite inspired by Hades and took a semi-open-world approach. It’s set to release early next year for PC early access, but can it rise above its inspirations? Time will tell.

Silent Hill f

The next mainline title in the Silent Hill franchise is surprisingly not set in the titular town. Instead, it ventures to 1960s rural Japan, where strange things are happening. Aside from NeoBards Entertainment being the developer, everything else is a mystery. However, Ryukishi07 is confirmed to be writing the story. Given his reputation for some of the best horror/mystery visual novels like Higurashi When They Cry, and Umineko, there’s a chance that it could be mind-breaking, insanely overdone or both, which is a good thing.

Lies of P

What’s next after live-action Pinocchio or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio? Pinocchio meets Bloodborne, it seems. NEOWIZ’s Lies of P sees the wooden boy awakening in Krat, which has seen better days. You have to find Mr Gepetto, which is easier said than done when everything in the city is trying to kill you. Fortunately, Pinocchio can combine weapons and even change out body parts for an advantage. Various quests also progress based on your lies, earning different endings. Lies of P is planned to release next year on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Atomic Heart

Mundfish’s Atomic Heart has been in development for a while and offers a mix of alternate-history sci-fi and FPS/RPG action. Set in the Soviet Union, where robotics have advanced rapidly, players control KGB agent Major Nechaev aka P-3, as they venture to facility 3826 and face off against rogue robots. Armed with the Polymer Glove with powers like freezing, telekinesis, and more, you also get a range of weapons, from guns to melee weapons, while dealing with all manner of robotic monstrosities to sick beats.

Atomic Heart has had a long development cycle, with reports alleging mismanagement, several reboots, crunch, and whatnot. It’s releasing on February 21st, 2023, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, so we’ll see how it turns out.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster is out next year. However, Rabbit and Bear Studios’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes offers a more contemporary take on the formula. Developed by Suikoden veterans Yoshitaka Murayama and Junko Kawano, the RPG features over 100 playable characters (including familiar faces from Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising) and a gorgeous 2.5D art style. With rune lenses reshaping the world of Allraan and the Galdean Empire gaining more power, the story sees two characters, Seign and Nowa, crossing paths and questioning everything. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes releases next year for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

SEASON: A letter to the future

Scavengers Studio is no stranger to controversy following allegations against its co-founders. Things seem on track, though, with the narrative adventure releasing on January 31st, 2023, for PS4, PS5, and PC. It’s the story of Estelle, who leaves her village to explore the world, meeting (and helping) different people and recording things, whether through documentation, photography or recordings. A calm, meditative journey that explores change while presenting a gorgeous-looking art style sounds like the right way to start the new year.

Dead Island 2

Initially believed to be vaporware due to all the delays, changing developers and lack of new information, Deep Silver’s Dead Island 2 finally re-emerged last year. It’s set in post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested California, with Los Angeles and San Francisco as its main cities. Players control six different “Slayers” as they attempt to survive. Swords, hammers, axes and much more are the keys to fighting back against the various zombie types, and you can even activate Fury Mode to rip and tear bare-handed. Despite facing another delay to April 28th, 2023, Dead Island 2 looks like it could finally release next year on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Before we continue, it’s worth pointing out that the moniker ‘Like a Dragon’ – as Yakuza has always been known within its native Japan – has replaced the old Yakuza branding. Sega’s reasoning is ‘Like a Dragon’ more closely aligns Western iterations of the series with its Japanese counterpart and will be how the series is known worldwide going forward.

Like a Dragon 8 will be a continuation of 2020 reboot Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a title Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio bravely hit the reset button for after seven mainline entries. It deviated superbly from previous Yakuza titles, opening the door for series newcomers whilst – mostly – appeasing long-time fanatics.

Combat-wise, Like a Dragon eschews the button bashing beat ‘em up action of its predecessors for turn-based JRPG-style brawling, requiring players to control a party of characters. The series’ former lone wolf narrative is also transformed into gangland fable, with Like a Dragon’s JRPG flavour featuring a new series protagonist in the form of the extremely likeable Ichiban Kasuga too, himself an orphan raised in nefarious bath houses now low-level Yakuza. Hallmarks of the series, its humorous quirks, its convoluted sub-plots, and joyously time-wasting side content are all present and correct.

Most exciting of Like a Dragon 8’s recent reveal trailer is the prominence of Yakuza poster-child Kiryu-san, strolling alongside new boy Ichiban Kasuga, both men backlit in Kamurocho neon. Kazuma Kiryu does appear in Yakuza: Like a Dragon of course, but he’s relegated to fresh protagonist Kasuga’s poundmate; he’s someone to be called into battle when requested. His appearance feels more like a passing of the torch from old to new rather than a hefty presence throughout the game. The sight of the two series mainstays idling side-by-side is a very welcome one, and with it the promise of dual controllable protagonists in Like a Dragon 8.

Yakuza games have featured multiple player characters before of course – Yakuza 0’s Kiryu and Majima for instance, or Yakuza 4 with 4 playable protagonists – but dual-wielding two major characters in a series revamped as gangland soap opera, with in-depth JRPG party system, then we’re looking at the very real chance of being able to create and maintain a party for both characters. After Kiryu faking his own death and absconding out of sight at the end of Yakuza 6, his whereabouts and wellbeing has been cause for concern for many a Yakuza player. So, whilst Kiryu did re-emerge in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and we will indeed have the gaps filled in between Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and Like a Dragon 8 in next year’s Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name spin-off, it’s just great to see Kiryu in high spirits and sharing the limelight once again.

It’s a dead-cert that turn-based combat will return in Like a Dragon 8 too. Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s turn-based brawling is not without its detractors though. Admittedly, the encounters did rely too heavily on individual party members’ special moves rather than harnessing the combined strengths of the whole team to dish out extreme damage. The ability for a character to grapple an opponent whilst another doles out a drumming at the command of the player is one obvious improvement, for a character knocking an opponent to the ground in close enough proximity for another in the party to kick them whilst they’re down is the closest we’ve come to combining party members in the same move. But these are minor gripes RGG Studio will surely be able to refine.

I for one love the turn-based battling system in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It’s character movement preserves some of the vibrant feel when fighting in previous Yakuza titles, whilst QTE actions and flamboyant special ability animations provide bite-sized sugar rushes that keep battles feeling fresh and invigorating. Like a Dragon’s flashiness made grinding through high-risk areas to level up character XP feel consistently enjoyable, and less like a chore. The game’s poundmate system whereby Ichiban can call in reinforcements akin to summons like in other JRPG’s presented elaborate and oftentimes absurd intro cutscenes for called-in characters too, which for a series famed for balancing dramatics with humour feels extremely well done.

Most of all, the turn-based battle system is simple enough on the surface. It’s an easy format for series newcomers or turn-based combat novices to pick up without too much trouble. Owing to the game’s character jobs system, the battling has unrelenting depth, which is ideal for those more seasoned JRPG players.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s choice of setting is top-notch too; returning is the fictional Kamurocho red light district of Tokyo and Sotenburi district in Osaka, but the new Isezaki Ijincho district of Yokohama – modelled after real-life Isezakichō – is frequently spellbinding. Each of the districts’ distinct areas have their own personality and charm, which is something perhaps prior Yakuza titles failed to fully exploit. As dense as Kamurocho is, Like a Dragon’s Isezaki Ijincho ramps up the detail despite being a larger surface area. It’s a playground for exploration, practically brimming with entertaining side-quests and distractions, and to me at least, feels the closest thing to visiting Japan outside of, you know, actually going there. I’m salivating at the prospect of exploring Yokohama once again in Like a Dragon 8, excited at exploring the same streets facelifted by current gen hardware.

As a series, Yakuza has always scrutinised the negative aspects of organised crime – its corruption, betrayal, suffering, and collateral damage are all burdens weighing heavy on the games’ central characters. Ichiban Kasuga, like Kazuma Kiryu before him, is a man supplanted into this world. He’s born into it, nurtured by it, but instead of succumbing completely to it he’s moulded by a desire to life a live of peace and tranquillity. Kasuga and Kiryu are antitheses to the brutal life of the Yakuza. Even if you don’t fancy yourself as a lover of crime-based fiction, or JRPG’s, Yakuza’s masterful blend of drama and hijinks makes it an ideal series for almost anyone. Its worlds are enthralling and its characters empathetic – each game is a memorable experience and it’s fantastic we Yakuza fanatics get to eat so well over the next couple of years. Like a Dragon 8 is looking like it’ll be a multi-platform release come 2024, and I for one can’t wait.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Why exactly has that change been made though? Speaking in an interview with IGN, RGG Studio boss Masayoshi Yokoyama talked about the same, and explained that the Western title of the last mainline Yakuza game – Yakuza: Like a Dragon (which was called Ryu Ga Gotoku 7 in Japan) was essentially a trial run for the change.

“In [Yakuza 7], it was Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and so we figured if we release this game suddenly out of nowhere with no Yakuza in it, people would be like, ‘What’s this game? What’s going on with this?’” Yokoyama said. “The response to the Like a Dragon name seemed pretty good, so it gave us the confidence to take out ‘Yakuza’ and just go straight on with Like a Dragon.”

Yokoyama went on to explain that the series isn’t necessarily focused on the Yakuza anymore, even though it does still focus on underground crime, which also explains why the developer decided to change its Western name.

“Story-wise too, we are talking about criminal underworld, but we’re not talking about Yakuza, really,” he said. “So it just makes sense for us not to include them in the name. If we carry through the accent, we’d be Yakuza: Ishin! It’s not Yakuza: Ishin! That’s not what it’s about. So Like a Dragon: Ishin! makes more sense.”

The franchise has a number of games launching in the next couple of years, with Like a Dragon: Ishin! and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name launching in 2023 and Like a Dragon 8 due out in 2024.

Yokoyama acknowledges that its long-running Dragon Engine has begun showing its age. While the studio has updated it over the years, adding new features when needed, the engine hasn’t really seen any major updates.

“The Dragon Engine at this point is kind of a bit of an old engine,” said Yokoyama. “We have made a lot of minor updates over the years for it, or we’ve made a lot of minor updates over it, but we haven’t made any major updates. So probably next what’s coming for would be a major update if we had to do anything.”

The studio is currently researching Unreal Engine 5, according to Yokoyama. Dragon Engine has proven itself quite capable at showing off Japanese cities in a night time setting, and the studio is looking into whether Unreal Engine 5 can work for future titles.

“We are kind of looking at it and saying, what are the merits of each? What’s the merit of the Dragon Engine? What’s the merit of the Unreal Engine? And when it comes down to it, the Dragon Engine…it’s really perfectly designed to represent a city at night. The nighttime city. Whereas Unreal, it’s better at showing nature and daytime and that sort of feel.”

Yokoyama also spoke about how graphical fidelity isn’t really much of a concern anymore. Rather, the studio is affected by the number of platforms there are to release games on.

“[R]ather than adjusting in terms of the challenge of adjusting to a new generation, much stronger technology, the main challenge is that now, we have so many platforms,” Yokoyama says. “We have PC, we have Steam, we have Xbox, we have all sorts of things from which our game can be a part of, and so making a game that can be on all these platforms and using the chance to share our game with people all around the world is the major challenge that we think we want to face going forward. And because of all these different pieces of technology, we want to maybe try doing something unique as well. Whether or not we’re doing it is a little bit of a secret though.”

Ryu Ga Gotoku recently unveiled three new games in the Yakuza franchise: Like a Dragon 8, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

Speaking with GameSpot, Yokoyama stated that the family friendly image of the Switch in Japan is what makes the studio hesitate in bringing Yakuza to Nintendo’s platform.

“Do we want to put a title like this where we’re going around and picking a fight with the world and doing all this Yakuza stuff, on a Switch,” said Yokoyama.

“We still kind of think of ourselves as people of the night world, right? We don’t want to be like walking around the day with everybody else,” Yokoyama said. “Like for us, it’s kind of showing this kind of underground feeling. I think the underground kind of feeling is what we want to do.”

Ryu Ga Gotoku recently unveiled 3 new games set in its Yakuza franchise: Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Like a Dragon 8. As might have become obvious, Ryu Ga Gotoku seems to be using the Like a Dragon name for the Yakuza franchise going forward, bringing the names for the Western releases in line with the franchise’s Japanese name.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! is set for release on February 21, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is set for release in 2023, and Like a Dragon 8 is set to come out in 2024. Judgement and Lost Judgement were also just released on PC.

Like a Dragon 8 is a turn-based RPG like its predecessor, and once again focuses heavily on the story. The scale is “very big,” and it’s the largest game in the series. As for Kiryu’s new hairstyle, there are many reasons for the change, but the development team can’t say for now. One thing is for sure: Kasuga and Kiryu are working together, but you’ll still team up with various friends and colleagues.

The theme is “the man with the past at his back and the man with the future ahead.” This represents Kiryu and Kasuga, respectively. Several voice lines have been recorded, with the process still ongoing. Stay tuned for more announcements from the RGG Studio Summit shortly.