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Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage "Fights" and Confrontation

by Max Feb 20,2025

Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

A recent interview with Automaton revealed a surprising approach to game development within Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the creators of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza franchise. The team embraces internal conflict as a catalyst for creating higher-quality games.

Like a Dragon Studio: Conflict as a Creative Tool

Embracing the "Fight" for Better Games

Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

Series director Ryosuke Horii shared that disagreements among team members are not just common, but actively encouraged. He explained that these "in-fights," especially between designers and programmers, are seen as opportunities for improvement. A planner's role is to mediate these discussions, ensuring they lead to constructive outcomes. Horii emphasizes that conflict is only valuable if it results in a tangible improvement to the final product. The key is fostering healthy, productive debate.

Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

Horii further highlighted the studio's commitment to meritocracy. Ideas are judged solely on their quality, regardless of their origin. The studio maintains a high bar for quality, unafraid to reject proposals that don't meet their standards. This process, Horii explains, involves robust debate and "battles" in the pursuit of excellence. The ultimate goal is a superior gaming experience.

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