The iconic Yakuza / Like a Dragon series is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. In a unique fan engagement initiative, they're letting enthusiasts pick the next official merchandise. With over 100 items on the ballot, ranging from conventional to downright quirky, the top two voted items will hit the market within the next two years. Although the voting is exclusively in Japanese, fans worldwide can cast their votes on the official website.
Among the more traditional offerings are a 20th anniversary celebration hoodie and a Yakuza-themed pencil case. However, the series' eccentric nature shines through with selections like the cult outfit of Munan Suzuki from Yakuza 0, the infamous traffic cone Majima uses to surprise Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami, and the flamboyant "Puffy Gold Pants." Other notable items include the sake enjoyed by Majima in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Akiyama's signature gold watch, Kiryu's fountain pen from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kashiwagi's tambourine from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's wrestling mask from Yakuza 3, and Saejima's prisoner uniform from Yakuza 4.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, fans can look forward to the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on February 21, 2025. While Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio commemorated the 10th anniversary with the beloved prequel Yakuza 0, no additional major projects have been announced for the 20th anniversary yet. However, given RGG Studio's track record of rapid game development, the possibility of more than one release in 2025 isn't out of the question. Over the past five years, they've impressively launched nine titles, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Judgment Remastered, Lost Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, and two Super Monkey Ball games, along with an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5.
