Sega and RGG Studio has lifted the lid on Stranger Than Heaven, a new IP from the Yakuza/Like a Dragon team, and we’ve got loads of new info in the title.
Regarding the combat, RGG says: “Players can also block enemy strikes with one hand and instantly counter with the other. Reading their moves and creating your own openings is key to coming out on top. Players will also master and enhance a wide array of weapons—knives, hammers, katanas, and more—as they fight their way through era after violent era.”
The cast will include Snoop Dogg, Moeka Hoshi, Tori Kelly, Akio Otsuka, Tokuma Nishioka, Yu Shirota, Dean Fujioka, Satoshi Fujihara, Cordell Broadus, Ado, and Bunta Sugawara.
You can check out the entire Xbox Presents broadcast below, which confirms the title is coming this year and will be part of Game Pass.
RGG also confirmed that the game will take place across five cities in different times, saying the game “unfolds across a version of Japan that may have existed in another life altogether, immersing players in five sprawling cities, each inspired by real locations of their respective eras.”
- 1915, Kokura, Fukuoka: home of what was said to be one of the world’s largest foundries, a smoke-scorched town bursting with the passion of hard-driven, equally fiery workers.
- 1929, Kure, Hiroshima: a port town dominated by Japan’s largest naval arsenal and heavily influenced by the presence of yakuza organizations.
- 1943, Minami, Osaka: the biggest entertainment district in western Japan, set against the ever-rising tension of a world at war.
- 1951, Atami, Shizuoka: a bustling seaside getaway synonymous with tourism in postwar Japan.
- 1965, Shinjuku, Tokyo: Japan’s most iconic pleasure district—a city of swirling and unpredictable chaos.
Early in the story, Makoto’s guide and mentor discovers his hidden talent for music, and, before long, Makoto finds himself not only singing a tune or two but stepping into the role of a showman, producing a wide variety of incredible acts throughout Japan.
In order to get these shows off the ground, Makoto must explore the streets and scout for skilled singers and performers. He can then head out into town, collecting any and every sound he can find, to create new music: the swish of a broom, snoring of a sleepy neighbor, the rumble of passing trains, distant animal cries, even the grunts and growls of the enemies he fights.
By combining these unexpected sounds, Makoto can craft original tracks and from there, he builds his shows from the ground up— choosing the setlist, arranging the band, assigning a cast, and designing the production, all in an effort to bring each show to life. As he tours the country staging performances and captivating audiences, players will experience Makoto’s rags-to-riches rise to success as a master showman.
Here’s some more details on Stranger Than Heaven from the latest press release:
- Face Down Fate: A 50-year saga of those with nowhere to go and their desperate struggle to find a home. In 1915 San Francisco, a young boy, Makoto Daito, sneaks aboard a suspicious ship in the harbor under the cover of night. Born to an American father and a Japanese mother, Makoto faces harsh persecution due to his Asian heritage. After losing both of his parents, Makoto decides to travel to his mother’s homeland, Japan, where a fateful encounter awaits. With nothing but the shirt on his back, Makoto soon learns, however, that his voyage across the Pacific is anything but a “free ride,” and that this one choice will forever change the course of his life.
- Regarding the Appearance of the Late, Legendary Actor Bunta Sugawara: In STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, the late and legendary actor Bunta Sugawara appears. SEGA received formal consent from his family, and, with materials provided by Toei Company, Ltd.—which produced many of Mr. Sugawara’s films, including the Battles Without Honor and Humanity— RGG Studio crafted his CG character design based on archival footage and photographs from the time. The character’s voice is performed by actor Takashi Ukaji, who shared a close connection with Mr. Sugawara.
Stranger Than Heaven is coming to Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5 in 2026.
