Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Demo Available Today

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has exciting news for fans of the Yakuza series: a free demo for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to launch today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. The demo becomes available for download at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK, offering a taste of the action before the full game's release on February 21. Note that the demo will not be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, although these platforms will see the full game's release.

While Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has not confirmed whether progress from the demo will carry over to the full game, the demo's structure suggests otherwise. It allows players to jump directly into specific freeroam and battle sections, bypassing the natural flow of the story. In the demo, players can explore parts of Honolulu and Madlantis, locations not accessible at the start of the complete game.

Gamers will have the chance to switch between the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles, engage in combat with formidable bounty enemies, and participate in four ship and deck battles at the Pirates' Coliseum. The demo also introduces new customization options and side activities, including karaoke with a choice of three songs.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii serves as a spin-off sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, marking it as the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth, including Yakuza 0). The game follows the journey of Goro Majima, who wakes up with amnesia and embarks on a pirate adventure across Hawaii.

A trailer unveiled during the October Xbox Partner Showcase provided a glimpse into the game's 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. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to offer a longer playtime than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, with an estimated story completion time of 15 to 18 hours.

Fans eager to dress up Majima as the series' iconic protagonist, Kiryu Kazuma, can do so by signing up for email notifications or joining the Sega reward system, adding an extra layer of engagement and excitement to the game.