"Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Demo Now Available in Hawaii"

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is excited to announce the release of a free demo for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii today, available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. You can download the demo starting at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK, as shared by the studio on X/Twitter. While the full game is set to launch on February 21 and will also be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, these platforms unfortunately will not have access to the demo.

Although RGG Studio hasn't confirmed whether progress from the demo will transfer to the full game, it seems unlikely due to the demo's structure. The demo allows players to jump directly into certain freeroam and battle areas, bypassing the natural flow of the story. You'll have the chance to explore parts of Honolulu and Madlantis, locations not accessible at the start of the full game.

In the demo, you can switch between the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles, battle against formidable bounty enemies, and take on four ship and deck battles in the Pirates' Coliseum. There are also new customization options to play with, and you can enjoy side activities like karaoke, featuring a selection of three songs.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii serves as a spin-off sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, marking it as the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth if you include Yakuza 0). The game follows Goro Majima, who awakens with amnesia and embarks on a pirate's journey across Hawaii.

A trailer unveiled at the October Xbox Partner Showcase gave fans a detailed first look at the ship combat, reminiscent of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, and hinted at the return of the fan-favorite character Taiga Saejima, suggesting deeper connections to the main series than previously anticipated.

With a story length of around 15 to 18 hours, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises to be significantly longer than the previous Yakuza spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Additionally, fans can dress up Majima as the iconic series protagonist Kiryu Kazuma, but this feature is exclusive to those who sign up for email notifications or join the Sega reward system.