Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Confirms Free New Game Plus

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's New Game Plus Mode Will Be Free for All

Following fan backlash over the exclusive New Game Plus mode in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced a different approach for its upcoming title, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The New Game Plus mode will be available as a free post-launch update.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, while critically acclaimed, faced criticism for restricting access to its New Game Plus mode to the most expensive editions. This decision proved controversial, prompting significant player discontent. While RGG Studio didn't reverse course for Infinite Wealth, they've learned from the experience.

The recent Like a Dragon Direct showcased gameplay elements of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, including naval combat and crew management. The announcement of the game's various editions concluded with the confirmation that New Game Plus will be a free addition via a post-launch patch, although a specific release date wasn't provided.

This decision is a welcome change, addressing concerns about locking core gameplay features behind expensive editions. While players will need to wait for the update, the relatively short wait time shouldn't significantly impact the overall experience, especially considering the length of typical Like a Dragon games. Many players will likely still be engrossed in their initial playthrough by the time the update arrives.

With the game's release date set for February 21st, RGG Studio is expected to share further details in the coming weeks leading up to launch. Fans are encouraged to follow the studio's social media channels for updates.