Some welcome news has arrived from the latest Like a Dragon Direct broadcast: upcoming action adventure Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii won't be placing its New Game+ mode behind a paywall.
If you're not sure why that's a big deal, it's because Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which launched last year, sold New Game+ as part of a DLC pack. Before then, New Game+ had always been included in the base release of every Yakuza / Like a Dragon title, allowing players to restart the game with all of their character progression and unlocks intact.
It was a (rightfully) controversial move amongst existing fans of the franchise, with many enthusiasts accusing SEGA of pushing an anti-consumer strategy. Fortunately, it looks like the backlash has forced positive change with regards to Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Indeed, New Game+ will be added for free via a post-launch update. A bit of a shame that it won't be there day one, but we assume that it'll drop sooner rather than later.
Are you glad to see SEGA and RGG Studio abandon such a atupid DLC strategy? Carry over all of your progress into the comments section below.
[source x.com]
Comments 18
LoL we live in a time where they have to announce in the trailer that new game plus will be free in a later patch 🙄👀😂
But that was a good video showing off a lot of gameplay 👌👀
Looks even better then AC4 and that other pirate game that was 🤮🤮🤮
Oh no Sega is taking lessons from Western devs now. Now we have to wait for ng+.
Dang, I really enjoyed spending money for feautures that should be available Day 1 for free
I love how we're now praising studios for doing the bare minimum and not being scumbags 😅
Good to see they got the message. Infinite Wealth is a great game but that NG+ situation was dumb. Looking forward to this one too. About time Majima got some attention!
Glad they listened for once.
Pretty sure I’ve never played NG+ in any game in my life, but it does make me wonder how much trouble I may be getting myself into by having this be my first ever Yakuza game? I just like the look of it, but if they treat gamers like it’s their 4th or 5th Yakuza game I may be in trouble, I’m kind of reliant on tutorials and slow learning curves for new games. If they’re treating this like a dlc continuation it may not be for me.
@rjejr this looks nothing like previous LaD games. Sure it will have a million callbacks and some gameplay mechanics from previous games, but you should be fine.
While locking it behind a paywall is scummy I have never used it in any Yakuza, tbh in most games I just don't see the point to it.
The industry is really in a sad state if something as basic as this merits praise.
I am not interested is what is obviously a spinoff title. I will wait for Like a Dragon 9
@Yukairi I don't think making NG+ free merits praise on its own.
But how many times have companies made decisions like Sega did with NG+, apparently listened to the criticism, and changed course? It doesn't happen.
THAT merits praise.
If it being post-launch means new game+ is not required for Platinum then it's win win
It's good they listened to fan response even if it was scummy to do it in the first place.
Still I don't mind giving huge amounts of money to RGG, I want them to keep making more games and I can personally afford it.
"Before then, New Game+ had always been included in the base release of every Yakuza / Like a Dragon title,"
That's actually not true. because it started with Yakuza 7. JP version had it as a dlc
I dont understand why you put such a basic thing in patch why not include it day one?
@Keyblade-Dan - agree but how much of this was the studio, i.e RGG, and how much was SEGA trying to capitalise on the western success of the recent output?
I know y'all like me and like to eat fast, but take it slow on this one so that NG+ will be there when you finish.
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