The Like a Dragon series, formerly Yakuza, has broadened its appeal to include younger and female players, yet its developers are committed to preserving its focus on the relatable antics of middle-aged men.

Like a Dragon Studio Prioritizes Middle-Aged Male Identity Over New Audience Trends

Celebrating the Everyday Lives of Middle-Aged Men

The Like a Dragon series continues to win hearts globally, led by the endearing ex-yakuza hero Ichiban Kasuga. Its growing fanbase now includes a diverse mix of young and female players. However, in a recent interview, the developers affirmed their dedication to the series’ core identity.

“We’re thrilled to see more fans, including women, joining us,” said series director Ryosuke Horii in an interview with AUTOMATON. “But we won’t shift our focus to cater to new audiences. That would mean losing touch with topics like uric acid levels that define our characters.”

Horii, alongside lead planner Hirotaka Chiba, emphasized that the series’ charm stems from its portrayal of “middle-aged guy things,” reflecting their own experiences as middle-aged men. From Ichiban’s passion for Dragon Quest to complaints about back pain, they believe this authenticity drives the game’s originality.

“Our characters are real, relatable people, just like our players,” Horii added. “This makes it easy to dive into the game and feel like you’re part of everyday conversations.”

In a 2016 Famitsu interview, series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi expressed surprise at the rising number of female players. “About 20% of our players are now women, which was unexpected,” he said, as reported by Siliconera.

While Nagoshi welcomed this growth, he stressed that the series was crafted with male players in mind. “Yakuza is designed for men,” he noted. “We’ll stay true to our vision without overly focusing on female audiences.”

Fans Raise Concerns Over Female Representation in Like a Dragon Series

Despite its male-centric marketing, some fans have criticized the series’ portrayal of women. Many argue that female characters are often sidelined or depicted through outdated, sexist tropes.

A ResetEra user remarked that while progress has been made, “female representation remains weak, with many scenarios leaning into sexist clichés.” Another fan noted, “In Yakuza 7, Saeko is the only female party member, aside from optional Eri. Male characters often make suggestive comments around women, as if that’s their only way to interact.”

Female characters like Makoto in Yakuza 0, Yuri in Kiwami, and Lilly in Yakuza 4 frequently fit the damsel-in-distress archetype, often overshadowed by male leads. This trend may continue, as Chiba hinted in the interview: “In Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, there’s a Party Chat where Seonhee and Saeko’s conversation gets overtaken by Nanba’s guy talk. That’s likely to keep happening.”

While the series has taken steps toward more inclusive themes, it occasionally falls back on dated tropes. Still, recent titles show improvement, marking a positive direction.

Game8 gave Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth a 92, calling it “a heartfelt tribute to longtime fans while boldly shaping the series’ future.” For a deeper dive into Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, explore our full review below!