After release Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties at the beginning of this year the completely new IP address of RGG Studio, Stranger than the skyis planned as the developer's next major release. While waiting for Like a dragon 9 can be a little longer, Sstranger than heaven will be the next best thing to carry the torch for RGG's signature crime drama narrative and brutal battles. However, there may be a stronger connection between the two franchises than meets the eye Stranger than the sky to be the cornerstone of a wider Like a Dragon universe.
Not many details were shared Stranger than the sky so far, with RGG and Sega only feeding fans updates on the game when it was originally revealed as “Project Century” at The Game Awards 2024. The recent Xbox Partner Preview included a new trailer for Stranger than the skywhich revealed the five eras and cities that players will experience in the game. It's clearer than ever in this new trailer Stranger than the sky is secretly a Like a Dragon the game is masquerading as a new IP.
Stranger than the sky gets a deeper dive in a dedicated broadcast on May 6.
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Stranger Than Heaven is a dragon-like game in all but name
Although Sega and RGG Studio probably won't admit it, it shows all the more Stranger than the skythe more obvious the game connects to Like a Dragon franchise in a significant way. He doesn't have to carry Like a Dragon name or feature any of the franchise's iconic protagonists such as Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, or Ichiban Kasuga, but Stranger than the sky has all the characters Like a Dragon series. Courageous combat and detailed historical depictions of the Japanese underworld in five eras provide Stranger than the skyMain character Mako Daito, look and feel for Like a Dragon protagonist in the world of the franchise, but the connection seems to run even deeper.
Stranger Than Heaven basically confirms that it takes place in space like a dragon
A major detail revealed in the latest trailer for Stranger than the sky there are five different cities in five eras in which the game will take place. These eras include:
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1915
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1929
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1943 – Sotenbori
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1951
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1965 – Kamurocho
While only two of the five cities have been confirmed, these are the two most important places to connect Stranger than the sky on Like a Dragon. The period of 1943 Stranger than the sky will take place in Sotenbori, Osaka, a fictional version of Dotonbori that appears in games like Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 2and Yakuza: Like a dragon. The other dead man gave it away Stranger than the sky is set in Like a Dragon the universe is the presence of Kamurocho as the setting for the final era of 1965. Kamurocho is Like a Dragonthe iconic fictionalized version of Kabukicho in Tokyo, which plays a key role in almost all of them Like a Dragon game.
Three more places, right Stranger than the sky will take players yet to be confirmed, but based on the footage shown in the latest trailer, there are a few standout possibilities. A popular theory for the 1915 era location is somewhere in Yokohama, such as Ijincho z Yakuza: Like a dragonor perhaps a new place like Kitakyushu, historically home to early yakuza clans. The 1929 era location looks cool, probably set somewhere in Hokkaido like Tsukimino in Sapporo from Yakuza 5. The 1951-era city doesn't have an immediately obvious real-world parallel, but some believe it could be set in Japan's Gunma Prefecture.
Stranger Than Heaven is not the first non-LaD game in the same universe
Like a Dragon's universe already extends beyond the games in the titular franchise. The Judgment series helped expand this world beyond the confines of the Tojo clan and its yakuza-centric storyline, while still keeping the games based in the same places players are familiar with, such as Kamurocho in Judgment and Ijincho inside A lost trial. As such, it is likely Stranger than the skyUsing locations like Sotenbori and Kamurocho is a deliberate way to flesh out the same universe in the game that is Like a Dragon by name and it wouldn't be surprising to see past places of Like a Dragon series also appear in other eras.
How can Stranger Than Heaven join the wider franchise
If Stranger than the sky is really part of it Like a Dragon expanded universe, there has to be a reason to keep his connection to the franchise under wraps. One of the prevailing theories about Stranger than the sky'with Like a Dragon the connection is that it details the founding of the Tojo clan. Although Like a Dragon the series never delved into the early days of the Tojo clan's history, 1965 would have been around the time when Makoto Tojo founded a criminal organization based on the succession of Tojo clan chairmen.
Another potential connection is that Stranger than the sky he could tell the story of how the Daidoji faction was formed. It is possible that Minoru Daidoji, the founder of the organization, could appear in it Stranger than the sky because the organization was founded after World War 2 which Stranger than the skyThe period 1951 and 1965 would be covered. Perhaps Mako Daito will become involved in Minoru Daidoji's military funding embezzlement scheme and end up as one of the Daidoji Faction's first fixers.
No matter how Stranger than the sky ends with a connection to Like a Dragonthe writing is very clear on the wall that this game will be a flagship title for the larger Like a Dragon universe. As more story information emerges Stranger than the skyhis association with Like a Dragon the franchise will likely only get stronger.
