Prime Video Unveils First Look and Release Date for Like a Dragon: Yakuza Series Adaption

Prime Video has shared the initial scenes from Like a Dragon: Yakuza and announced its official release date, generating excitement among fans. This series marks another ambitious project in Amazon's lineup of video game adaptations, capitalizing on the global popularity of the Yakuza franchise.

Originally known as Ryū ga Gotoku: Gekijōban, the first film adaptation of the beloved action game series by Ruy Ga Gotoku Studios debuted in 2007 under the direction of Takashi Miike. Although based on Sega's renowned video games, its impact was predominantly confined to Japan. Since then, however, the franchise has gained significant traction in Western markets. Notably, the developer Ryu Ga Gotoku transitioned the game from its traditional action style to the turn-based JRPG genre in its recent releases, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The latter swiftly became the fastest-selling instalment, reaching one million copies sold and establishing itself as a strong contender for the Game of the Year title in 2024.

Given this success, it is no wonder that Amazon Prime Video has opted to explore the Japanese criminal underworld through the narrative of Kazuma Kiryu, expanding its slate of game-based content that has already seen success with series like Fallout. The forthcoming live-action series Like a Dragon: Yakuza now has an official debut date on Prime Video, set for October 24. Alongside this announcement, Amazon has dropped its first trailer, where fans can witness Kiryu, portrayed by Ryoma Takeuchi, as he gets his renowned dragon tattoo on his back and steps into a combat arena. The trailer also provides glimpses of various locales in the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of Kamurocho, which draws inspiration from the real-life Kabukichō, the primary setting for most of the game's events.

There is hope and anticipation that Amazon has skilfully adapted the rich, engaging storyline of the video games into an equally compelling television series. Excitement builds as fans await the premiere of Like a Dragon: Yakuza in October.