During its showcase for the way forward for its Yakuza franchise, developer Ryu Ga Gatoku Studio introduced that within the west, the franchise would now be rebranded as Like a Dragon. According to a Sega consultant who spoke to Kotaku, the rebrand is to for consistency’s sake: in Japan, the sequence is called Ryū ga Gotoku, aka “Like a Dragon.” 

Outside of Japan, Sega’s crime franchise has been often called Yakuza for the reason that unique recreation debuted in 2006 to higher illustrate what the video games have been about. It’s not on daily basis that franchises change their names, and maybe the closest instance was when Activision added “Call of Duty” onto the 2009 Modern Warfare 2, as model consciousness for it was decrease with out the brand. 

The Yakuza identify caught for a number of installments till 2020, when the seventh installment was known as Yakuza: Like a Dragon within the west, and Like a New Dragon in Japan. The solely different occasion of a reputation change for the franchise has been its spinoff sequence Judge Eyes, which is called Judgment outdoors of Japan. 

Like a Dragon’s rebrand will make itself recognized starting in February 2023 with the interval piece spinoff, Like a Dragon: Ishin. The franchise will proceed with Like a Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name later that very same 12 months, and Like a Dragon 8 in 2024. 

The Like a Dragon franchise has come to be extraordinarily well-liked within the west over time thanks to varied sequels. Given how lengthy the identify has been operating outdoors of Japan, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how Sega will get the identify change throughout for these not already within the know.