Mar 29 (News On Japan) - Released on January 26 to universal acclaim, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has hit gamers hard.
Jointly published by SEGA and Tokyo-based developer Ryū Ga Gotoku Studio, the latest chapter in the recently rebranded Like a Dragon series – formerly labeled as Yakuza in the West – was one of the most anticipated releases of 2024. This dual adventure between legacy protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and new-face-of-the-franchise Ichiban Kasuga took the world by storm, surprising even its own producer.
Expectations were sky-high about Infinite Wealth among gaming crowds. Shortly after its launch, the press was already lyrical about this impressive achievement in storytelling, one bound to herald a brand-new era for a franchise that has only been growing in popularity in recent years. Many hardcore gamers were equally enthusiastic, with some predicting the game could be 2024’s dark horse at the next Game Awards.
This critical triumph translated well into the charts. For the first time ever, Infinite Wealth crossed the one-million-sales benchmark in a week. SEGA beat the drum for this considerable feat on its social media with an official press release, and the game’s developer recently celebrated this accomplishment in his own way. Sitting down with the web media outlet 4Gamer, Japanese dev Yokoyama Masayoshi said he was surprised at a speed of sales his team had “never experienced before.” He stressed that Like a Dragon titles usually sell in the long run, bolstered by word-of-mouth among an adult player base that seldom buys games right off the bat. This sales pattern has seemingly been the same “since the series’ early days,” he added.
While the game has been an unabated success on the global stage, Infinite Wealth has had a particularly strong run in Japan, where “the momentum is even greater than in the past” according to Yokoyama. With over 180,000 physical copies sold in Japan, the studio’s latest RPG has surpassed Yakuza: Like a Dragon and its 156,000 units. Such colossal sales are even more of a resounding win considering blockbuster Japan-made titles like Persona 3 Reload and Tekken 3 came out at around the same time.
Although it came as a surprise to RGG Studio, this smash hit breaking records left and right is only a testament to the game’s sheer quality – and proof enough that its creative risk-taking paid off. Straying outside Japan for the first time, developers shook up the series’ formula in style without sacrificing substance. In relocating their protagonists to a foreign environment, they introduced a Hawaiian map three times the size of the fictional district of Isezaki Ijincho, where the meaty part of the story played out in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Taking the series abroad could have unsettled long-time fans, but developers paved the way for this massive change by allowing players to wander around a familiar Yokohama setting in the first chapter of the game. Ichiban landing in Hawaii in the second chapter feels earned, allowing for the series to go in an exciting direction.
From then on, the streets of Honolulu City beckon exploration alongside Ichiban and his crew. From an in-game management sim over on Dondoko Island to a fun take on SEGA’s retro racing game Crazy Taxi, tons of new minigames and side quests keep players busy besides the main story. Even staples of the series feel refreshing against this Hawaiian backdrop, including revamped gambling halls that allow card sharks to laugh all the way to the nearest bank. Seasoned players may grow weary of this limited pool of casino games, though.
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Ultimately, Infinite Wealth made good on its all-new location. As wacky as any of its predecessors, this passing of the torch story also managed to weave an impactful narrative that hits all the right emotional chords. Described as a monster class in length by Yokoyama himself, Infinite Wealth is now the best-reviewed Like a Dragon title on Metacritic. And the fastest-selling entry in the series could reach even higher heights in Japan and beyond.
