SEGA has reportedly filed a new trademark for an upcoming game entitled Yakuza Wars. News of the newly registered trademark was revealed on August 5, with the trademark being accepted today after initially being filed on July 26.

Details about the game are unknown, but speculation is rife, and some pretty good fan theories are circulating.

Image Credit: SEGA

Translations of the filing suggest the game will be focused on “heavy machinery” which is supported by a recent job posting on the Like A Dragon developer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s website. That job listing was for a designer to work on “prop models, such as cars and heavy weaponry, to be used in event scenes and during gameplay.”

With the name and convention, instant comparisons were brought between Yakuza Wars and SEGA’s 2019 mech combat tactical RPG Sakura Wars. An adaptation of the animated series of the same name, Sakura Wars earned a cult following with its stylish mech combat, and unique battle system. Given the filing’s descriptions of “heavy machinery” and vehicles, the idea of a mech-combat Yakuza RPG doesn’t seem too far fetched.

Sakura Wars. Image Credit: Sega

With the Like A Dragon series shifting more into the turn-based RPG genre with the success of the recent entries, a TRPG might be the logical next step for the genre.

The filing also comes weeks before the Tokyo Game Show, which starts on September 26. The suggestion is that SEGA and RGG Studio may debut their new Yakuza Wars title at the game show. 

Overall, there’s a lot of theories, and not a lot of substance, but a simple copyright filing has already built hype for Yakuza Wars.

The Like A Dragon series, formerly the Yakuza series, has grown from a cult classic, only semi-known outside of Japan, to one of SEGA’s biggest titles. The games most recent title, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, released to near universal critical acclaim. 

Credit: Amazon JP

Then, in June, Amazon announced The Like a Dragon: Yakuza, a series set to debut on Amazon Prime in October. 

Needless to say the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series is flying high, and a new game with a new spin on the formula may be just what it needs to continue the success.


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