
In contrast to previous Yakuza games that focused on the life of Kazuma Kiryu, a man trying to lead a normal life after leaving the yakuza lifestyle, Like a Dragon instead introduces a new protagonist named Ichiban Kasuga. The game was released worldwide for PlayStation 5 on March 2, 2021, and a version for Amazon Luna launched on December 10, 2021. This version was then released in Asia under the subtitle International on Februfor Windows and Xbox platforms. The western release of the game for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on Novemincluded new costumes, the English audio track and some previously paid DLC.


The first mainline title in the Yakuza franchise developed as a turn-based RPG, it was released in Japan and Asia for PlayStation 4 on January 16, 2020. Haruka Sawamura is playable in Yakuza 5, though she is the only protagonist that does not physically engage in combat.Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role-playing video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. Though Kiryu is the primary main character, beginning with Yakuza 4, more playable protagonists are introduced, including Shun Akiyama ( Yakuza 4, 5, Dead Souls), Taiga Saejima ( Yakuza 4 & 5), Masayoshi Tanimura ( Yakuza 4), Goro Majima ( Yakuza 0, Dead Souls), Ryuji Goda ( Yakuza: Dead Souls), and Tatsuo Shinada ( Yakuza 5). The series features primarily a "beat 'em up" style of gameplay, with multiple new locations in each game to explore, though the events of the series generally take place in Kamurocho, a fictional city in Tokyo's Red Light District. Several spin-offs to the series include Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! and Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!, historical adventures which use the characters of the Yakuza series in place of historical figures, and Yakuza: Dead Souls an apocalyptic 3rd-person zombie shooter. Yakuza: Like a Dragon begins the journey of the new series protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, who debuted in Ryu ga Gotoku Online. It was created by Toshihiro Nagoshi and SEGA, beginning in 2005 with Yakuza, and ending series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's journey with Yakuza 6 in 2016.

The Like a Dragon series ( 龍が如くシリーズ, Ryū Ga Gotoku Shirīzu), formerly known as the Yakuza series outside of Asia, is a franchise of primarily action-adventure and role-playing games.
