Like A Dragon 8 - Release date speculation, platforms, gameplay, and more

If you're ready to learn the Like A Dragon 8 release date, we're here to help. This new entry in Sega's hit crime franchise, also known as Yakuza in western regions, is bound to cause a splash once it releases. With the series pumping out more entries than ever before, this eighth mainline instalment looks set to be a big one.

In this hub, we'll break down everything you need to know about Like A Dragon 8. That includes its proposed release date, as well as its story and gameplay features. As you can tell from its title, the Yakuza moniker is officially out, so we've got details on that too.

When is the Like A Dragon 8 release date?

As of the time of writing, Like A Dragon 8 doesn't have a fixed release date. Instead, all we know so far is that it's slated to release at some point in 2024. That's the release window given by Sega in the announcement trailer, so it's all we have to go off right now.

Fortunately, there will be plenty of games in the years between then and now to keep Yakuza fans busy. In 2023, two games in the franchise are slated to release: a next-gen remaster of the Japan-only Like A Dragon Ishin, as well as Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

As such, fans will have plenty to get through while we wait for the Like A Dragon 8 release date.

Latest news

In what has been a bumper 24 hours for the hit crime franchise, the next mainline Yakuza game has been announced. Earlier today, Sega shared a brief one-minute trailer for Like A Dragon 8, now fully embracing the franchise's Japanese name in Western markets.

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The brief announcement trailer shows Ichiban, the spiky-haired protagonist from 2020's Yakuza: Like A Dragon. He stands alongside Kiryu, widely regarded as the franchise's main character, now sporting a moody swept-back hairstyle. If that isn't confirmation that Like A Dragon 8 is moving away from its predecessor's spin-off nature, nothing else will be. Check out the trailer here:

Is Like A Dragon 8 Yakuza 8?

Rather confusingly, it seems that Sega is now fully embracing the original Japanese name for the Yakuza franchise. Up until now, it has abandoned the Like A Dragon series name in the west, aside from using it for the seventh mainline entry back in 2020 - which, along with its final chapter name, signified the impending change.

However, this time around it appears that the Yakuza moniker is firmly done and dusted. With this game, alongside Like A Dragon Ishin and Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, the series will stick to its Japanese title in the west going forward.

Therefore, you don't need to worry about having missed out. Like A Dragon 8 is technically the eighth mainline Yakuza game, even if it doesn't go by that name. It's a little bit confusing, but ultimately is only a perfunctory change.

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What are the Like A Dragon 8 platforms?

Upon its release in 2024, Like A Dragon 8 will come out on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. That's no surprise, given those also seem to be the supported platforms for other Like A Dragon games for the next few years.

Therefore, it doesn't seem like previous-gen consoles will lose their support for the next few years at least.

What's the Like A Dragon 8 gameplay?

In keeping with Yakuza: Like A Dragon from 2020, there's a good chance that Like A Dragon 8 will retain its turn-based combat mechanics. This was a big deviation from the real-time brawling the series made its name upon, but seems to be a more tactical-minded approach going forward.

Of course, outside of combat you'll still have all the open-world bells and whistles that make the franchise so enduring. Expect to see more races, activities, and chances to socialise with your crew of underground gangsters to become even closer.

That's it for our look at Like A Dragon 8. Be sure to stay tuned, because we'll update this hub as soon as we learn more about the latest mainline entry in the former Yakuza franchise. Until then, feel free to read up on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date.