Free Hello Work uniform DLC for Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth being offered via email newsletter

Need an excuse to have Sega deliver all your Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth news for you? How about a free Hello Work suit for game protagonist Ichiban Kasuga? If you sign up for Sega’s e-mail newsletter for the game, they’ll send you a free DLC code for the Hello Work suit to equip Kasuga with. If you don’t know what Hello Work is, it’s the employment center from Yakuza: Like A Dragon, where characters can switch job classes, opening everyone up to new skills in combat, which can also be done in Infinite Wealth. Anyway, it’s no Sonic Soap shoes, but you know what they say about looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Check in past the break for the link to the newsletter, and remember, they only give you a code for one platform. If you plan on buying Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth for multiple consoles, or if you haven’t decided yet which one you wish to play the game on, consider signing up with multiple e-mail addresses for multiple codes. You can always give extra codes to friends or family.

Memorial service for fictional Like A Dragon characters, named “Like a Dragon: The Men Who Perished Exhibition”, being held in Japan

Any fan of the Like A Dragon (Formally “Yakuza”) series will know that these games’ stories have never sugarcoated the mortality of its entire cast. Many characters, some loved and some loathed, have met grim fates in virtually every game ever released bearing the names Like A Dragon and Yakuza. Now, Sega, in collaboration with Parco shopping centers, is giving fans in Japan the chance to pay their respects to many of these characters with the Like a Dragon: The Men Who Perished Exhibition, a series of funeral events for every character in this series that has died up to this point.

At three separate events planned for Tokyo, Nagoya, and Sapporo in the next two months, you can attend traditional Japanese funeral services for these characters to offer flowers and prayers and to purchase exclusive merchandise. Some merch you can purchase fits right in with a funeral service, like incense sticks, mini-headstones, and handkerchiefs. Others are more fun, typical merch, like t-shirts, handbags, bookmarks, and acrylic standees. You can also use your smartphone to see images of the deceased characters with AR on site.

The first exhibition will be in the Parco center in Ikebukuro, Tokyo from December 30th, 2023 to January 13th, 2024. Next is the Nagoya Parco from January 20th to February 4th. Finally, there’s the Sapporo Parco from February 16th to February 25th. If you happen to be in Japan during January or February 2024, be sure to stop by one of these sites to pay your respects to your favorite Like A Dragon characters.

That’s the most important info out of the way. Now check in after the break for details that include spoilers for the Like A Dragon series. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  

SEGA pulling back on blockchain gaming saying play-to-earn games are boring

Cryptocurrency has taken a big hit in value, but when it was in its all time high, SEGA and other big publishers where quick to announce blockchain gaming projects across the board. SEGA was even one of the biggest supporters saying their next big ‘super game’ and successor to Phantasy Star Online 2 would feature NFTs. Now that the price and hype surrounding crypto has shifted into a bear market, it seems that SEGA is having second thoughts on the whole thing.

SEGA’s co-Chief Operating Officer Shuji Utsumi talked to Bloomberg News recently:

“The action in play-to-earn games is boring. What’s the point if games are no fun?”

As far as SEGA’s online multiplayer, high budget “Super Game” that is due to roll out in 2026, he had this to say:

“We’re looking into whether this technology is really going to take off in this industry, after all” 

Kson wins the RGG hostess competition grand prize; will now appear in Like A Dragon 8

Back in April, I reported on Vshojo star Kson becoming a finalist in RGG Studio’s hostess grand prix and being awarded a hostess role in Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, alongside 4 other lucky women. Well, now that contest is finally over and Kson has taken home the grand prize, coming out just two points ahead of the runner up. She now gets the prestigious honor of not just being a hostess in Like A Dragon Gaiden, but also that upcoming game’s follow-up, Like A Dragon 8.

Moreover, the five finalists, including Kson, will be represented in Gaiden though live-action video footage, much like in the gravure photography mini-game from Yakuza Kiwami 2. Kson, as the grand prize winner, will have her real self recreated as a 3D model in Like A Dragon 8, like every other major hostess in the entire series. Look forward to seeing, and speaking to, her 3D representation in Like A Dragon 8, which does not yet have a firm release date as of this writing. Like A Dragon Gaiden is still on track to launch on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC within 2023.

To learn more about who Kson is and why her inclusion in the Like A Dragon series is so significant, check out my earlier article discussing her inclusion in Like A Dragon Gaiden. Tell us how hyped you are by this news in the comments too.

Special thanks, once again, goes to Sakura Ch. for their translation of the above clip from the official RGG livestream announcing the winner and detailing Kson’s new hostess role. Of course, I also heartily congratulate Kson on this milestone on behalf of SegaBits. (EDIT: Sakura Ch. deleted their clip from the livestream. I have replaced it with a screenshot of the tweet from VShojo congratulating Kson.)

Vtuber Kson confirmed to appear in Like A Dragon Gaiden as a hostess

Recently, RGG Studio revealed the five winners among a group of women who auditioned to appear as hostesses in the upcoming Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This is something they have done many times for earlier Like A Dragon/Yakuza games, with the winners usually consisting of actual hostesses, gravure models, and even porn actresses. This time, one of the five finalists is especially significant. Well known Vshojo idol, and longtime Like A Dragon fan, Kson was ceremoniously confirmed to be among the new hostesses in Like A Dragon Gaiden, much to her excitement and the excitement of many diehard fans of hers.

Find out more about who Kson is after the break.

Special thanks to Sakura Ch. for their translation of the above clip from RGG Studio’s official livestream where the five wining actresses were revealed. (EDIT: Sakura Ch. has deleted their clip. I’ve replaced it with a tweet from the RGG Studios Japanese twitter showcasing the winners. Kson is on the top right.)

SEGA News Bits Live: Like a Dragon 8 & Sonic Frontiers reveals Super Sonic

On this News Bits Live, Barry reacts to the news of three new Yakuza titles as well as… wait, they’re not Yakuza games anymore? Okay, let’s talk about that too. Also, Super Sonic and a new island is revealed for Sonic Frontiers! All this and the past week’s news on SEGA News Bits Live!

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Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name releasing 2023 to Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms

In another surprise at the RGG Summit, a new game was announced for 2023: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. The game stars Kazuma Kiryu in a story that takes place between Yakuza 6 and 7 with classic gameplay elements returning. The game is said to be smaller, about half the size of a mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon title.

The game will release in 2023 to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC platforms.

Like a Dragon 8 announced for 2024, releasing to Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms

In the early morning hours, at least here in the USA, SEGA of America dropped the trailer for the eighth game in the Yakuza franchise: Like a Dragon 8. The news dropped at Japan’s RGG summit event. Due out in 2024, the game will release globally to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC platforms. Ichiban Kasuga returns, and he brought a friend with him. Wait, it’s Kazuma Kiryu with a new haircut! Also, notably, the game drops the Yakuza name, which we also noted yesterday with the Like a Dragon: Ishin! reveal. It looks like the Yakuza franchise is now the Like a Dragon franchise!

What are your thoughts on the trailer? Did Kazuma get a haircut?

SEGA announces live action Yakuza TV show

original[Note: Image is not from the announced live action Yakuza TV show]

SEGA has announced a new live action drama Yakuza TV show, based obviously on SEGA’s series of games. This isn’t the first time that SEGA made a live action drama series, they did one for Yakuza: Black Panther that promoted the PSP game. While that happen with a spin off game, this if the first time the main series enjoyed a TV show release. The Yakuza main series did get live action prologue shorts directed by Takashi Miike , who would later go on to direct a full length film loosely based on the first game.

Sadly not much information for the Yakuza TV show has been announced, all we know is that SEGA is working on one and that they will show more at Sega Fes 2016. Sega Fes 2016 will run two days on November 19th and 20th, so expect more Yakuza TV show news soon.

[Source: NicheGamer]