The video game industry is built on several things, and one of the biggest things is that of franchises that stand out above other titles. Yes, plenty of “one-off games” have helped redefine the gaming industry over the years, but if you really think about it, those are becoming few and far between in this modern world. Plus, if they make enough money, they could be turned into a franchise down the road. The trouble is keeping long-standing franchises relevant and fun. But for the team behind the Like A Dragon franchise, they’ve been cranking out games for a while and are seemingly hitting their stride in the best way.
True, the games used to be more “niche” titles and even had a different name, but once they adopted Like A Dragon as their brand and started to do certain things, people started buying their titles in droves. Then, by the time you get to their more recent game, Infinite Wealth, you hear how the franchise is “on top of the world” and getting praise from pretty much everyone.
In the last decade, the team at RGG Studio has made ten entries in their franchise. That’s astounding, especially when you consider the cost of making games and how long many people take to develop them. In an interview with the Washington Post, studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed why RGG Studio has a “leg up” on other companies like Ubisoft and Rockstar Games:
“If you take a GTA or Assassin’s Creed, those companies’ big marketing copy is [about] a new city complete with new gameplay – and they almost reinvent a large portion of the game.”
He went on to note that he feels those games are more like “reboots” than true sequels, and that does ring true at times. But his team works on a different wavelength entirely:
“We take on an approach that builds on the previous version. That comes more from a drama or movie type of development, linear media content. … I don’t think many companies are doing this with video games. I would argue it’s probably only us.”
Indeed, few companies are cranking out titles at the rate that RGG Studio is, and those that try have had serious backlash over the quality of their games. That being said, the real question is whether the studio can maintain this level of output and quality. Yes, they’re doing it now, but some have noted that not all of their games within the decade have been “the best.” So only time will tell what happens next.
