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.

That might be faraway, but the trailer did drop some interesting hints at what awaits Makoto and the rest of the cast as the story unfolds. We already knew that he flees San Francisco, but we now know that his hopes of better treatment in his homeland are dashed thanks to his mixed heritage. The word gaijin immediately comes to mind. There are also hints at a quest for revenge, probably tied to the reason his mother was in America in the first place.

This one’s had us quite eager to see more of it ever since it was announced, thanks to a combat system that looks like it brings the best of Tekken to the table, and a bevy of other activities that could have you so steeped in being the showman of Makoto’s dreams it can be easy to forget about all the threats lurking about on the road to get there.

Of course, the revelation that got the biggest reveal was Tupac walking out of the shadows in a digital avatar that has captured the likeness quite well. he joins other well-known names like Snoop Dogg and Ado in a star-studded cast that’s sure to have us all tapping our feet when they drop the beat.

So how does it work? Well, you essentially control the left and right sides of Makoto’s body independently. Pressing RB and RT (or R1 and R2) will attack with his right arm and leg, while LB and LT/L1 and L2 attack with his left arm and leg. It’s highly reminiscent of Tekken, which maps a limb to each face button.

When pressing these buttons in sequence, Makoto will react accordingly and execute combos. You can charge attacks, use one arm to block and strike with the other, or press LT and RT/L2 and R2 to tackle and mount an enemy. Tackling them near the stairs results in both parties tumbling down.

Of course, alongside more basic tools and weapons, you’ll also discover “masterworks of old” and “brand-new inventions of the era” with unique passives and special attacks. Upgrading these will increase their potency, though you’ll likely have to find the right materials.

And in true RGG Studio fashion, you have cinematic combat sections, including (but not limited to) fisticuffs on a moving vehicle, instakill attacks, and context-sensitive actions. For example, one scene features Makoto holding an enemy while they’re punched in the stomach and quietly knocked out.

Launching this Winter, Stranger Than Heaven is shaping up into quite the release, especially when factoring in the story and showman system. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Makoto, the protagonist, has a “keen ability to find the music in everyday life” and uses “sounds as ideas for future compositions,” as game director Mikonobu Abe describes it. You may hear a man snoring, a dog barking, or a train passing by, and use those to create songs with various composers. When he becomes a showman down the line, Makoto will recruit musicians and organize gigs, right down to the show structure and set list.

After putting up posters advertising the show, he can then watch it live. Of course, alongside musicians, he’ll also run into important singers played by real-world artists, including Takashi (Satoshi Fujihara), who actually thinks of Makoto as his “aniki.” There’s also Suzy, played by Tori Kelley, who also helped write the game’s theme song.

Other characters like Keiko Shirai (played by Ado) weren’t fully detailed, but each has their own flaws and dreams, just like Makoto and his friend Yu. The real question is whether we can get Orpheus, played by Snoop Dogg, to perform. Here’s hoping.

Stranger Than Heaven launches this Winter for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It’s also coming to Game Pass on day one and will support Xbox Play Anywhere.

The story focuses on Makoto Daito (Yu Shirota), a half-American, half-Japanese boy who leaves San Francisco to get away from cruelty in 1915 and travels to his mother’s birthplace – Japan. However, he’s on a ship that belongs to the smuggler Orpheus (played by Snoop Dogg) and encounters Yu Shinjo (Dean Fujioka). Together, they leave the ship upon arriving in Japan, but their paths diverge greatly.

Makoto is more the brawn, while Yu is more calculating and seeks to reshape Japan. The former works as a sidekick to Orpheus and slowly earns his way up before reuniting with the latter years later in Minami, Osaka. Things progressively heat up with the Yakuza, the Italian Mafia and even the Japanese government as they seek to leave their mark on the world. Of course, many other notable cast members await, including Tori Kelly (who plays Suzy) and Ado.

Starting in Kokura, Fukuoka, with its debauchery and plethora of workers (not to mention minigames like cards and arm-wrestling), players will then venture to Kure, Hiroshima, known for its shipbuilding, heavy industry, and modern Japanese culture alongside a maze of waterways and numerous hills. Minami is steeped in foreign culture and offers shooting minigames and betting, while Atami, Shizuoka, is more refined with airports and whatnot.

Interestingly, it all culminates in Kamurocho, Shinjuku, where a “tremendous secret” is revealed. Potential tie-ins to the Tojo Clan? Time will tell, but for now, Stranger Than Heaven is shaping up into something very special.

“We can’t say much more [about that] than what was shown today. But as you can imagine, 5 cities and 5 eras is a massive undertaking. We’re putting a tremendous amount of care into bringing to life these times and places we feel are rarely explored in games. It’s truly a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else.”

Aside from bringing different eras to life, Yokoyama also elaborated on the game’s combat systems, promising more details about its brutal battles in the coming few months. “We also got a frenetic look at the game’s brutal, highly dynamic combat systems – with everything from weaponry, grappling, one-versus-many fights, and environmental interactions shown off. This is an all-new level of combat design from us, and what you saw is just the tip of the iceberg with much more to be revealed soon.”

He also had a lot to say about the game’s unique musical score, revealing that we were yet to hear the ones that he was partial to. “Those music tracks really get your feet tapping, don’t they? Well, let’s just say there’s a lot more where that came from, and some of my favorite music has yet to be heard.”

Regarding potential returning characters, he was cagey about revealing anything juicy. However, he gave the impression that we’re in for quite a treat once RGG Studio starts detailing all the actors.

“Oh, I wonder who you could be referring to? We weren’t exactly subtle with some of the footage we chose for this trailer, but let’s just say that players can look forward to an all-star cast. We’re excited to reveal more at the upcoming Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven broadcast.”

The broadcast he’s talking about is scheduled for May 6, 2026, and is sure to offer even more news about a game that we’re quite excited to play when it launches for Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC. It will also be available on Game Pass and Xbox for PC while supporting Play Anywhere.

Stranger Than Heaven will take players through time, with the story taking place in the years 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951, and 1965. Since these years represent massive jumps in time, it is likely that the protagonist will also change over the course of the game. The fact that we also get to explore different cities makes this even likelier.

The scenery isn’t the only thing that will be changing depending on the era and city you’re in, however. The trailer gives us a good idea of how even the simple act of walking down a street can be quite different depending on the decade. Along with this, combat, while brutal regardless of the year, will allow players to use different tools depending on the time and place. All the century-spanning mayhem in the trailer is paired with loose jazz beats, adding an extra level of chaos to the video.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has also confirmed that more details about the game will be revealed during an “Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven” showcase on May 6th.

Stranger Than Heaven is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While no release date has been confirmed so far, the latest trailer did indicate that it was coming out “soon”.

It will receive an “in-depth look,” which could finally provide more details on its gameplay and story. Other titles like The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will receive “new looks”, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is getting an “update.” Perhaps we’ll finally learn when the release windows for its story expansions and multiplayer, nearly 1.5 years after its original launch.

Microsoft also promises new reveals, “world premieres”, and even Game Pass announcements, so there’s plenty to look forward to. Deep dives and behind-the-scenes details will also be revealed for “select titles” on Xbox Wire, in case you want to dig even deeper into their development.

Stranger Than Heaven doesn’t have a release date, but Sega previously said it would launch during or after fiscal year 2027. Persona 4 Revival is slated for the same window, and given how it was announced during last year’s Xbox Games Showcase, what are the odds that it appears during the Partner Preview?

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is also intriguing because Owlcat Games previously confirmed closed beta access for those who pre-purchased the Miller’s Pack for $79.99. Perhaps it will finally reveal plans for the same. As always, stay tuned for more details and live coverage this Thursday.

As a brand new IP, Stranger Than Heaven follows Mako Daito in Sotenbori (based on the real-world Dotonbori in Osaka) in multiple different time periods. Combat appears grittier and more grounded than the Like a Dragon and Judgment series, with realistic blood and gore. The atmosphere is also decidedly more refined, though details on the story remain to be revealed.

Stranger Than Heaven doesn’t have a release date, but Sega expects it and Persona 4 Revival to launch between April 1st, 2026, and March 31st, 2027. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.

As for RGG Studio’s other projects, it announced Yakuza Kiwami 3, a remake of Yakuza 3, and Dark Ties, a spin-off starring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine for launch on February 12th, 2026. It’s also bringing Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC in December.

According to the Sega Sammy Management Meeting 2025 presentation, both titles will launch in or after fiscal year 2027. It begins on April 1st, 2026, but that doesn’t mean either could arrive by next year. Instead, they could very well launch by March 31st, 2027, which is when the fiscal year concludes.

Of course, there are several titles whose release windows remain unknown, including the next Virtua Fighter, Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio, so stay tuned for updates. Sega has several other titles coming this year to fill the gap, with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance out on August 29th and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launching on September 25th. Check out the latest trailer for the latter here, and stay tuned for updates.