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

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is set to excite fans with 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. The demo will be up for grabs starting at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK, as announced by the studio on X/Twitter.

While the full game is slated for a February 21 release across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, the demo will be exclusive to the newer consoles and PC. It's unclear whether progress made in the demo will carry over to the full version of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, but the demo's structure suggests otherwise. Players can jump directly into specific freeroam and battle areas, bypassing the game's natural story progression.

In the demo, players get the chance to explore parts of Honolulu and Madlantis, areas not immediately accessible in the full game. They can also switch between the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles, tackle powerful bounty enemies, and engage in four ship and deck battles at the Pirates' Coliseum. Additional features include new customization options and side activities such as karaoke, with a choice of three songs to sing.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spin-off sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, marking the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth if you count Yakuza 0). This game follows the iconic Goro Majima, who finds himself with amnesia and takes on the role of a pirate, navigating adventures in Hawaii.

A trailer showcased at the October Xbox Partner Showcase gave fans a glimpse of ship combat reminiscent of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and hinted at the return of Taiga Saejima, suggesting deeper connections to the main series than previously anticipated.

Expected to take around 15 to 18 hours to complete, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will be longer than the previous Yakuza spin-off, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Fans eager to see Majima dressed as the series' long-time protagonist Kiryu Kazuma can do so by signing up for email notifications or joining the Sega reward system.