Like a Dragon: Ishin! Producer Talks Historical Setting, Development, and Upgraded Battle System

We can't help but devour any new Like a Dragon: Ishin! info as fast as we can get it. Recently, fans at Twitchcon had the opportunity to go hands-on with the title and give their impressions. Now a full interview with producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto from the event has been released, in which the setting, story and upgraded battle system are discussed.

During the seven-minute discussion, we learn that including the time spent tinkering around with Unreal Engine 4, Like a Dragon: Ishin! has only been in full development for about a year and a half, which is a remarkably short turn-around time for something on this scale.

RGG Studios ditched its proprietary Dragon Engine for this project, as it was apparently not great at depicting daytime scenes. Not such a problem in the darkened back alleys of Kamurocho, but a different matter entirely when your story takes place in the sunny former capital of Heian-kyō, or modern-day Kyoto.

Sakamoto confirms that content not present in the original 2014 release will make an appearance in the 2023 remake in the form of optional sub-stories, an updated soundtrack, all-new battle skills, and, most important of all, additional karaoke songs. You will even be able to customise your appearance with the latest Edo style.

Are you looking forward to Like a Dragon: Ishin! as much as we are? What do you think of the return to a more historical setting? Let us know in the comments section below.