Yakuza Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku “Working On Unannounced Titles”
As Sega looks to pursue global launches for its games, one of its most prestigious studios is working on new IP.
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Yakuza and Judgement developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is reportedly working on multiple new games outside of their already iconic franchises.
In a recent interview with Famitsu (transcribed by Ryokutya and with excerpts translated by VGC), studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama confirmed that the team is “also working on unannounced titles outside of [Yakuza and Judgment].”
It makes sense for the studio to work on new IP right now, due to the international success of Lost Judgement. This latest title in the Yakuza spin-off Judgement series was the first game in either series to be released concurrently around the world. Previous Yakuza games have launched in Japan and Asia first, with fans outside of these regions having to wait months, sometimes even years, for Western localisations.
Developer Ryu Ga Gotoku is owned by Sega, which announced earlier this year that it plans to consolidate market costs by pursuing global launches. Rather than paying for several years worth of advertising campaigns as games receive staggered launch dates, the company wants to ensure even niche titles are reaching millions of players around the world.
Given the prestige of the Yakuza series and its spin-offs, Ryu Ga Gotoku pursuing new games and creating a new series is a relatively low risk endeavor, and a way to start a new worldwide fanbase for whatever game the studio makes next.
Another reason the studio could be working on new games rather than existing IP is that the future of the Judgement series is currently unknown due to an alleged dispute between Sega and the talent agency that represents that game’s actors.
The agency, Johnny & Associates, is apparently refusing to allow the Judgement and Lost Judgement games to get PC releases, as it has very strict rules over how its actors’ likenesses are used. It is unknown why it isn’t bending this rule considering the fate of a very successful series is on the line.
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/yakuza-devs-working-on-new-ip/