Yakuza Series Director Says Fighting Among Devs Can Be Useful

According to Ryosuke Horii, the series director of the Yakuza series – now called Like a Dragon in the West – fights among team members can lead to a better final product.

In an interview with Automaton, Horii discussed the dynamics of his team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, explaining that not all fights are a bad thing.

“For example, if a designer and a programmer are quarreling, it is the planner’s job to intercede,” he said. “After all, if there are no arguments nor discussions, you can expect no more than a lukewarm final product. Therefore, fights are always welcome.

Yesterday, it was announced that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA would host RGG Summit 2024 on September 20. the broadcast will likely feature the newest information about the future of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series.

“But obviously, fighting is meaningless if it doesn’t result in a fruitful conclusion, so it is up to the planner to lead everyone in the right direction,” Horii continued. “It’s all about having healthy and productive fights.

“We accept opinions based on how good they are, not based on which team suggested them. On the other hand, we also make sure to ‘mercilessly’ shut down poor ideas, so it boils down to having debates and ‘battles’ in the interest of making a good game.”

The Yakuza game series began in 2005 with Yakuza for the PlayStation 2. The most recent game in the franchise, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, was released in January 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.