Last month, it was revealed that Amazon is producing a live-action adaptation of the Yakuza series and that it will air as a television series via its streaming platform, Prime. Today, we not only got a sneak peek at what Kiriyu and his iconic back piece will look like in Like a Dragon: Yakuza, but we also got some info on how this version of things will be a little different from what has come before.
You can check out the trailer and a brief synopsis of what Like a Dragon: Yakuza will be about below:
“Released in 2005 by SEGA, the ‘Yakuza’ game series was positioned as an entertaining game for adults, which found massive fanfare amongst its target audience. The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modeled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay. Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore.”
Back in 2007, a movie under the same name was released, with its plot loosely based on the original Yakuza game. It is mostly touted as a separate one-night story that unfolds parallel to the events of the game, which the Amazon series is set to retell.
When discussing the upcoming series, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Director and Executive Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama spoke a little more about the previous adaptation, and how they hope to avoid Like A Dragon: Yakuza coming off as “just an imitation.” He also states that the portrayal of the characters is “totally different from the original story,” but not in a bad way.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is set to release on Amazon Prime’s video streaming platform on October 24, 2024. While you wait for its release, be sure to check all of our other news, including the cozy crafting game that was recently axed, Microsoft Flight Simulator airport updates, and 6v6 Overwatch possibilities.
