Sega: 'Yakuza: Like a Dragon' Focuses on Aging Gangsters

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, while expanding its appeal to younger and female players, remains committed to its core identity: middle-aged men navigating middle-aged life.

Like a Dragon Studio Prioritizes its Established Identity Over Catering to New Demographics

Staying True to the "Middle-Aged Guy" Experience

The Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) franchise enjoys global popularity, thanks in part to its relatable protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. This has broadened the fanbase to include a significant number of younger and female players. However, the developers have affirmed their intention to retain the series' fundamental character.

Series director Ryosuke Horii, in an interview with AUTOMATON, stated, "We've seen a huge surge in new fans, including women, which is fantastic. But we won't alter the core themes to specifically appeal to this new audience. That would prevent us from exploring topics like uric acid levels!"

Horii and lead planner Hirotaka Chiba believe the series' unique appeal stems from its focus on the experiences of middle-aged men, a perspective they share personally. From Ichiban's passion for Dragon Quest to his complaints about back pain, they see this relatable "humanity" as the source of the game's originality.

Horii added, "The characters are real people, just like our players, making their problems relatable. This allows players to immerse themselves and feel like they're listening to ordinary conversations."

In a 2016 Famitsu interview (reported by Siliconera), series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed surprise at the growing number of female players, noting they comprised approximately 20% of the fanbase. While welcoming this growth, he emphasized that Yakuza was fundamentally created for a male audience and that they would avoid drastically altering the series to cater exclusively to female players.

Scrutiny of Female Representation in the Yakuza Series

Despite its primarily male-focused marketing, the series has faced criticism regarding its portrayal of women. Some fans argue that female characters are often relegated to stereotypical supporting roles or are objectified.

ResetEra users have pointed out ongoing concerns about the inadequate representation of women and the persistence of sexist tropes and scenarios. The limited number of female party members and the frequent use of suggestive or sexual comments by male characters towards female characters have also been highlighted as problematic.

Many female characters fit the "damsel in distress" archetype, a pattern observed in characters like Makoto (Yakuza 0), Yuri (Kiwami), and Lilly (Yakuza 4). This tendency to sideline female characters raises concerns about the series' future direction.

Chiba, in a humorous comment, noted an instance in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth where a female-focused conversation is interrupted by male characters, suggesting this dynamic might continue.

While the series shows progress in incorporating more progressive elements, it occasionally falls back on outdated sexist tropes. Despite these inconsistencies, newer installments represent a step in the right direction, as evidenced by Game8's 92/100 review score for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which praised the game for its appeal to long-time fans while establishing a promising future for the series. For a comprehensive analysis, refer to our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review.