As a remake of the 2014 spin-off, Ishin! is set in the Late Edo Period with protagonist Sakamoto Ryoma seeking vengeance for the murder of his mentor. Assuming a secret identity, he joins the Shinsengumi in Kyoto. Of course, the chaos of the Bakumatsu era means bigger conflicts, like the Tosa coup d’état, to deal with.

Despite similarities to past Yakuza characters, Ishin! unfolds in an alternate timeline. It’s being developed on Unreal Engine 4 and captures the sheer bloodshed of the era. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming months. In the meantime, check out the recently announced Like a Dragon 8 and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

Following Yakuza 6’s conclusion, Kiryu has seemingly taken up a life-style as a monk named “Joryu.” It’s not long before the Dragon of Dojima returns to action for some “manual labor.” Unlike Like a Dragon, this is an action-adventure game, though it’s not confirmed whether the combat will be akin to Yakuza 6.

In terms of size, it’s a little bit bigger than Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files and roughly half the size of a regular title in terms of volume and story. Nevertheless, it’s considered “very, very important” in the grand scheme. There’s a lot that can’t be said right now, but you’ll still have side quests to complete and a town to hang out in.

Overall, the title will help those who started the series with Yakuza: Like a Dragon to learn more about Kiryu. It also provides his full story heading into Like a Dragon 8. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is out in 2023 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC (Windows and Steam).

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.