Even though the Yakuza games, now rebranded as the Like a Dragon series, have consistently delivered expansive experiences, the upcoming title, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, pushes those boundaries even further. As previously covered by the media, the game's world is three times larger than that of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which was already vast. More importantly, the expansive world is filled with a plethora of activities.
Masayoshi Yokoyama, the studio director, elaborated on the game's scale in an interview with Automaton-Media. He highlighted that attempting to complete every aspect of the game might make it seem never-ending:
"The core narrative alone is lengthy, incorporating two central characters and a host of additional personalities, resulting in an extensive array of side quests.
Moreover, 'Dondoko Island' and 'Bucket List' are brimming with secondary content. They're so expansive that, depending on your gameplay style, they could be games in their own right. However, both these areas, much like side quests in the series traditionally, are entirely optional. One could focus solely on the primary storyline or delve into the side quests to experience the game's full scope. This choice remains consistent in Infinite Wealth. Nevertheless, attempting to complete all available content is an infinite task."
Yokoyama warns that even a straightforward playthrough of the main storyline, avoiding side content, would require 3-4 days (equivalent to around 100 hours) of continuous gameplay without sleep. However, he advises against such an approach:
"To complete just the main story arc of Infinite Wealth, it could take roughly 3-4 sleepless days. This estimate assumes no distractions and minimal engagement with side stories, so I would rather you savor the game gradually without sacrificing sleep."
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers a treasure trove of content, including engaging mini-games, hidden surprises, and more, ensuring that players looking to dive into Ichiban Kasuga's latest escapade will find plenty to make their investment worthwhile.