Yakuza creator confirms Sega departure as Like a Dragon sequel is announced

Yakuza creator and Sega creative director Toshihiro Nagoshi has confirmed he’s leaving Sega.

Also departing Sega as part of a wider shake-up is Daisuke Sato, the head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, which has confirmed it’s working on a sequel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

It was claimed in August that Nagoshi was set to leave Sega after 32 years to join Chinese developer NetEase, although Friday’s announcement didn’t confirm his next destination.

“As of today, a new Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is born where the series will live on,” Nagoshi said. “Though I don’t know for sure what they will create, I believe the new generation will further enhance the foundation we built over the years and deliver great games to the world.

“To achieve that, they too need to continue to learn, challenge themselves, and grow. I ask that you continue your support of the studio’s endeavors.

“Once again, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of you. Thank you so much for your support. Stay tuned for the many new beginnings!”

Sato said he had chosen to leave Sega “to take a different path” after being involved with the Yakuza series since its beginning and serving as head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio for nine years.

Going forward, Masayoshi Yokoyama will serve as director of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and executive producer, while Ryosuke Horii and Hiroyuki Sakamoto will be chief director and chief producer of the Yakuza series respectively.

Yokoyama commented: “Ryu Ga Gotoku’s predecessors have passed down their beliefs and know-how to each and every staff member. You can witness it in the recently released Lost Judgment and will see it in the upcoming sequel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon which will continue Ichiban Kasuga’s story.

“Whether it’s six months or one year from now, I hope to show you a new Ryu Ga Gotoku title by a new Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio that is different but still the same, and something that will spark a feeling of ‘this is what we are waiting for’ within you.”

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The studio’s most recent game Lost Judgment, the sequel to 2018’s Yakuza spin-off Judgment, released in September.

VGC wrote in its 4/5 star review: “Lively combat and engrossing social clubs keep you busy, but it’s the much-improved detective story that elevates Lost Judgment above the original.”