The recently confirmedLike a Dragon 8is set to be the next installment to the longstandingYakuzafranchise, which is now officially being rebranded toLike a Dragonin the West. With massively important information recently coming out regarding the upcoming game, discourse around the title has skyrocketed, although this could be short-lived.
Like a Dragon 8may run the risk of falling out of gaming discussions in the near future, given the fact that it is not set to release for another two years. Titles of similar initial hype that have far away release dates include the newFabletitle as well asAvowed, andLike a Dragon 8would do well to learn from the lack of post-announcement communication from these other games.
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The Basics of Like a Dragon 8
Like a Dragon 8is set for a 2024 release window, being a highly anticipated sequel to thesuccessful 2020 titleYakuza: Like a Dragon. A majority of the more pertinent information regarding the upcoming title recently came with the Ryu Ga Gotoku Summit presentation, which outlined details forLaD 8as well as intentions for a standalone title known asLike a Dragon: Gaidenand a remake for the samurai-set titleLike a Dragon: Ishin.
The recent footage shown at the presentation confirmed thatnew franchise protagonist Ichiban Kasugawill be returning alongside long-time series veteran Kazuma Kiryu, with the two figures acting in dual protagonist roles. Other than additionally confirming that at least part of the upcoming game will be set within the iconic franchise location of Kamurocho, no other solid details regarding the title are currently known. While it remains that the game could very well release more important details in the near future leading up to its eventual 2024 release, it needs to be tactile in releasing this information sooner rather than later unlike other similarly anticipated titles.
The Lack of Information Regarding Fable and Avowed
A reboot title for thepopular and longstandingFablefranchisewas announced in 2020, being spearheaded byForza Horizondevelopers Playground. Like the recentLike a Dragonannouncement, the reveal behind the upcomingFablesimply consisted of a small teaser trailer that allowed fans to infer minor details regarding the game. With there essentially being radio silence regarding any additional updates since the 2020 announcement, discourse surrounding what should be a very high-profile title has essentially faded to nothing.
Avowedis another title that is currently facing a similar fate, a brand-new IP from development team Obsidian Entertainment. This title was originally announced at 2021’s Xbox Games Showcase, being a fantasy RPG with melee and magic combat that saw many fans liken it to the massively successfulElder Scrollsfranchise. Given this setting and the small amount of teaser gameplay that was showcased to fans,Avowedalso had massive amounts of early hype that has since died off due to a lack of concrete updates following its reveal.
It is imperative thatLike a Dragon 8looks toward these titles when planning its roadmap from now until 2024, withAvowedandFablebeing of a similar scaleand level of acclaim. With far-off release dates becoming an increasing norm within the industry for newly-announced games, it is massively important that fresh details and new content are slowly released to fans to fill the long wait of development cycles, allowing a title’s community to stay active and to prevent the tedium that can come with radio silence for an upcoming project.
Like a Dragon 8will launch in 2024 for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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