The latest presentation from developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio provided a new look at the upcoming titleLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the next mainline entry in theLike a Dragonseries and follow up to 2020’sYakuza: Like a Dragon. Originally revealed in 2022 asLike a Dragon 8, the game was re-revealed at the recent Xbox Games Showcase with the new title ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthfor its Western release. This name change may seem strange to some, but with details about the game’s plot sparse, it could hint at what players can expect from this entry.
Following the style of gameplay established by its predecessor,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthwill feature turn-based JRPG combat rather than the more traditional action-brawler combat of the series' past. Additionally,Like aDragon: Infinite Wealthwill feature two main protagonists: series icon Kazuma Kiryu andYakuza: Like a Dragonstar Ichiban Kasuga in a story that sees the two teaming up for reasons yet unknown. Players can expect to travel to classic series locations like Kamurocho, Sotenbori, and Ijincho, along with a new location from the latest teaser forLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealththat looks like Hawaii.
RELATED:When Does Like a Dragon Gaiden Take Place on the Timeline
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Could Have a Metaphorical and Literal Meaning
RGG Studio developers have been tight-lipped in interviews about major questions surrounding thestory ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but recent comments about the game’s name change imply the significance of the game’s subtitle in regards to its story. The justification for the new subtitle for the game’s Western release comes from a fear that players who started the series withYakuza: Like a Dragonwould be confused by its sequel being titledLike a Dragon 8. In an effort to curb confusion, RGG Studio says it wanted to give the game a title that could help it stand on its own while reflecting the game’s core themes.
While not directly confirming any plot points, thedevelopers ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthhave stated that the concept of infinity is an important theme within the game. Kiryu is said to be a character that carries the past with him, while Kasuga is a character who carries the future with him. It’s clear this statement is meant to reference the passing of the torch from one protagonist to another, but it could also represent the metaphorical lifecycle of a character as the end of one’s story gives way to the start of a new one, thus creating an infinite loop.
This subtitle could also have a more literal meaning that directly references an aspect of the game’s plot beyond just overarching themes. A majorplot point ofYakuza: Like a Dragonwas the money counterfeiting scheme of the Ijin Three that Kasuga and the party uncover during their investigation into the counterfeit bill Kasuga is discovered with. The counterfeiting operation was the primary way the three organizations that make up the Ijin Three were able to maintain their power within Ijincho, and being able to print money at will would literally be considered “infinite wealth.”
Although the equipment necessary to produce the counterfeit bills was destroyed during the course ofYakuza: Like a Dragon’s plot, a successor to this counterfeiting ring could easily emerge given how lucrative it was for the Ijin Three and would make for a natural force to drive the plot ofLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. As a series centered on the criminal underworld of Japan, theLike a Dragonserieshas frequently featured massive amounts of money as a motivation for its plots. While the subtitle forLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthmight be too on the head if this is the case, it sounds like it will also represent a larger, metaphorical theme within the game.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthwill be released in 2024 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a Perfect Return to Form for the Series
