Yakuza and Like a Dragon games make it onto Game Pass soon after release, if not on day one. However, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth will not come to Game Pass at all. In a recent interview with automaton-media, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Director Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that players wouldn’t see this game there.
According to the interview, Yokoyama explained the reasoning behind the decision. While this may be a blow to some, Yokoyama drew parallels with the recently released Baldur’s Gate 3, another expansive title that opted to skip Game Pass due to its sheer volume. The director believes each game presents unique goals and requires a tailored approach to reach players.
You can get every single other Yakuza game from Game Pass today, including the samurai spin-off Like a Dragon: Ishin! This will be the first one not partnering with Game Pass, but the reasoning makes sense.
“I thought of Game Pass as a way of “handing overseas users our business card” – in other words, letting players new to the series enjoy the game and get to know Kiryu. Game Pass proved to be a very good method to invite new users to interact with the series. I think each title has its own goals and befitting ways of being provided to users. “
Masayoshi Yokoyama
For Infinite Wealth, Yokoyama envisions a deep engagement that unfolds slowly, akin to a captivating TV drama. He encourages players to savor the game bit by bit, immersing themselves in the intricate main story, numerous side quests, and optional activities like Dondoko Island and the Bucket List. He even jokingly warns against pulling all-nighters to conquer the game, emphasizing the importance of healthy play habits.
From what I’ve heard, it’s a long game. RPGs tend to be longer than most action-adventure games released today, which is strange to see since only a few true RPGs are released anymore. The Yakuza series is a ‘J’ RPG, meaning it’s more of Japan’s version, but they go all out when they are dedicated to a large world.
If the studio feels like they deserve a full price for each copy, that’s how it will be. You can still enjoy the other games on Game Pass, including the newly released Like A Dragon: The Man Who Erased His Name.
