"Pirate Yakuza Demo in Hawaii Now Available"

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is set to launch a free demo for their highly anticipated game, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, today across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. The announcement came via X/Twitter, with the demo becoming available for download at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK. However, players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will have to wait until the full game's release on February 21 to dive into the action, as the demo won't be available on these platforms.

While RGG Studio hasn't confirmed whether progress from the demo will transfer to the full version of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, it seems unlikely given the demo's structure. The demo allows players to jump directly into specific freeroam and battle areas, bypassing the game's natural storyline. Players can explore parts of Honolulu and Madlantis, locations not immediately accessible in the full game's opening.

In the demo, players can switch between the Mad Dog and Sea Dog fighting styles, battle against formidable bounty enemies, and engage in four ship and deck battles within the Pirates' Coliseum. Additionally, the demo introduces new customization features and offers side activities such as karaoke with a choice of three songs.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii serves as a spin-off sequel to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, marking it as the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth if including Yakuza 0). The game follows the journey of Goro Majima, who wakes up with amnesia and embarks on a pirate adventure across Hawaii.

A trailer showcased during the October Xbox Partner Showcase provided a first glimpse at the game's ship combat, reminiscent of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, and hinted at the return of the fan-favorite character Taiga Saejima, suggesting deeper connections to the main series than initially anticipated.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii promises a longer experience than its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, with an estimated playtime of 15 to 18 hours for the main story. Fans eager to see Majima dressed as the iconic Kiryu Kazuma can do so by signing up for email notifications or participating in the Sega reward system.