Let’s Talk About the Latest Like a Dragon Rumors

We’re getting closer and closer to the next Like a Dragon announcement, and rumors have begun to fly.

Let’s talk about what is confirmed first.

Fact: RGG Studio is set to reveal a new game at TGS that they say fans will be “surprised” about. They also selected the actresses who will appear in an upcoming game, after holding a contest. It’s not clear if those refer to the same game or not.

Fact: An RGG Summit will be held this Friday, September 20, where they’re expected to announce the next Like a Dragon game. It’s unclear if this is the same game as the TGS reveal and there was just some misinterpretation about when it would be announced, or if they’re two separate games.

Fact: Sega recently filed a trademark for “Yakuza Wars.”

Up until recently, we’d assumed Yakuza Wars was the surprising game they were set to reveal. However, it now appears that Yakuza Wars is a Chinese gacha mobile game, which is kind of disappointing but probably means it’s not the big Summit/TGS announcement after all. Since RGG isn’t developing that game, I wouldn’t expect it to get more than a brief mention.

So what could their next game be? Judgment 3? Kenzan remake? Like a Dragon 9? Dead Souls Kiwami?

Enter the pirate rumors.

It seems there’s a leaker teasing a game to be announced soon. Some people think the teases are for a new Ninja Gaiden game, but others are convinced it’s a pirate-themed Like a Dragon. A Like a Dragon pirate game would certainly be a surprise. Infinite Wealth already did a lot with water and Ishin had swordfighting (and guns), so it doesn’t feel implausible. A fan on Twitter also pointed out that when the actresses’ auditions were announced, there was a map featuring a ship visible in the background.

Things have taken a stranger turn, however, with an older claim surfacing that says it’s a modern-day spin-off in which Majima loses his memory and becomes a pirate.

That sounds like a questionable story premise to me. Given the choice between the two, I’d much rather a historical pirate game with the cast playing new characters a la Ishin than a Majima amnesia plot. But no matter which it is, there had better be a sea shanty mini-game to act as this game’s karaoke.

Of course, this whole rumor could come to nothing. The original leak could be for Ninja Gaiden while the Like a Dragon game is something entirely different. Even the claim that RGG teased the Majima game seems to only refer to a tweet about the Majima coat hanger merchandise, which is a stretch to consider a hint toward a pirate spin-off. We’ll know soon enough, though, because the RGG Summit is only a few days away!

Do you believe the Like a Dragon pirate game rumors?