Sega Reveals Developers' Bold Approach: Encouraging Confrontation in "Yakuza Like a Dragon"

The developers behind the Like a Dragon series embrace conflict as a key ingredient in their creative process. According to a recent Automaton interview with series director Ryosuke Horii, internal disagreements and "in-fighting" are not only common at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, but actively encouraged.

Horii emphasizes that these clashes, while sometimes heated, are vital for producing high-quality games. He explains that the role of the planner is to mediate these disputes, ensuring that arguments lead to constructive outcomes. "If there are no arguments or discussions, you can expect a lukewarm final product," Horii stated. "Fights are always welcome, as long as they result in a fruitful conclusion."

The studio fosters an environment where the merit of an idea, not its originator, determines its fate. Horii highlights their willingness to accept strong proposals from any team, while simultaneously rejecting substandard concepts without hesitation. "We accept opinions based on how good they are, not based on which team suggested them," he explained. "We also make sure to ‘mercilessly’ shut down poor ideas…it boils down to having debates and ‘battles’ in the interest of making a good game." This culture of constructive conflict, mirroring the game's own dynamic spirit, seems to be a driving force behind the Like a Dragon franchise's success.