Stranger Than Heaven

46 articles

Stranger Than Heaven news

Preview: Stranger Than Heaven Kicked My Ass, and I'm Not Proud

Stop! Stop! Sammy's already dead. Stranger Than Heaven kicked my ass, guys. I’ve been playing the Yakuza games since the PS2, so I’d like to think I’m a seasoned enjoyer of RGG Studio’s specific brand of brawler gameplay. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Preview

Stranger Than Heaven’s explorable cities offer the highest density in RGG Studio’s history, devs say

Players can expect far more enterable buildings than in Like a Dragon games.

Automaton West / Amber V

Interview

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN Gamescom 2026 demo playthrough

Publisher SEGA and developer RGG Studio have released a 12-minute playthrough of the Gamescom 2026 …

Gematsu / Sal Romano

Trailer

This Ain't Yakuza! SEGA Showcases Stranger Than Heaven's Complex Combat with Live Gameplay Demo

The Stabbin' of Dojima. One of the most interesting things about Stranger Than Heaven is that developer RGG Studio isn't just repurposing the action combat of its previous games. Instead, the Japanese studio's crafted a new system that sees players control the individual limbs of protagonist Makoto Daito. It appears to be a much more technical take on street brawling. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Trailer

Stranger Than Heaven: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition

Preorders are live for Stranger Than Heaven, an upcoming Yakuza spin-off that takes place across 50 years. Here's what comes in each edition.

IGN / Chris Reed

Release date

Somewhere between QWOP and Tekken, Stranger Than Heaven has one of the most interesting combat systems I've played in some time

The word going around Summer Game Fest this year was that Stranger Than Heaven was tougher than nails. And having played it I can confirm that it is. Until it isn't. Stranger Than Heaven is frightfully hard to get your head around for the first few minutes, particularly as this demo was essentially just a case of being dropped into three bouts of increasing challenge with only a quick video tutorial first. But once you unlearn a few habits and learn to think the way it wants you to, it's less di

Eurogamer / Chris Tapsell

Preview

Yakuza Dev's Stranger Than Heaven Was First Planned as a Full Trilogy of Games

Stranger danger. Stranger Than Heaven is set to be the most ambitious game that RGG Studio has made in a long time. This is mostly down to the fact that its story spans a whopping 50 years, following main character Makoto Daito's steady rise to infamy. Structurally, the title's set across five different and distinct time periods. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Announcement

'It May Seem Like We're Only Doing It for Attention': Stranger Than Heaven Dev Discusses Celebrity Castings, Including Tupac

"Performances can elevate the entire work". Based on what's been shown so far, it looks like Yakuza / Like a Dragon developer RGG Studio could be onto something special with Stranger Than Heaven. However, the upcoming action game has caused a bit of stir through its casting choices. More specifically, the decision to use Tupac Shakur's likeness for a certain character has rubbed some onlookers the wrong way. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Interview

Stranger Than Heaven studio don't intend their "casting choices [to] take the spotlight and overshadow everything else", despite that now having happened two games running

Remember when, during Stranger Than Heaven's release date reveal at the Summer Geoffs, the word TUPAC flashed on screen in big capital letters during the climax of a trailer running down the history-hopping yakuza brawler's cast? Remember how afterwards, as you'd expect given the whole digital resurrection of a rapper who was murdered nearly 30 years ago thing, 99% of the chatter about the game was focused on that rather than the date or any other aspects of it? Yeah, well, that apparently isn't

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Interview

Stranger Than Heaven executive director talks about casting philosophy learned from Yakuza 0 and how Snoop Dogg’s involvement led to Tupac’s appearance

RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama talks about the casting process behind his upcoming game, Stranger Than Heaven.

Automaton West / Đorđe P

Interview

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN’s massive 50-year saga intentionally prioritizes “convincing lies” over historical accuracy, says RGG Studio

RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama talks about Stranger Than Heaven's "huge" main story, map size and approach to historical accuracy.

Automaton West / Amber V

Interview

Stranger Than Heaven Second-Take Preview: Stranger Than Heaven’s Combat Seems Harder Than Hell, and that’s a Good Thing

Stranger Than Heaven's flexible fighting system feels like an increase in challenge from the standard Like a Dragon brawling, but that feels like a good indication that RGG Studio isn't content to merely serve up more of the same with its new series prequel. We had another IGN editor, Tristan Ogilvie, sit down with Stranger Than Heaven after Michael Higham put together our first combat hands-on last week. Check out this video for Tristan's thoughts.

IGN / Tristan Ogilvie

Preview

Stranger Than Heaven's Combat Will Challenge You Like A Souls Game | IGN Preview

After playing Stranger Than Heaven, its clearly going for a slower, more calculated combat system that diverges from the Yakuza games. It's a bit rough, but has a lot of potential.

IGN / Michael Higham

Preview

Stranger Than Heaven will explore Tupac's "potential future" if "he was still alive now", according to RGG studio head

In case you missed the opening night of this year's Summer Geoffs, Like A Dragon/Yakuza devs RGG Studio's Japanese history-hopping crime brawler Stranger Than Heaven got a release date. That was rather overshadowed, however, by the reveal that it'll feature a digitally resurrected version of rapper Tupac Shakur. While not the first deceased face to be confirmed as featuring in the game, that honour went to Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, Shakur's inclusion naturally raised a lot of eyebrows. RGG

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven: We Grapple with RGG Studio’s New Combat System

The post Stranger Than Heaven: We Grapple with RGG Studio’s New Combat System appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Xbox Wire / Mike Nelson, XBOX Wire Editor

Preview

Stranger Than Heaven Director Addresses Concerns Over Tupac's Inclusion

The director of Stranger Than Heaven has addressed concerns around the casting of Tupac Shakur.

IGN / Cade Onder

Interview

Round Up: Stranger Than Heaven Makes a Strong Impression with Its Unique Melee Combat

Previews live now. SEGA and developer RGG Studio are taking some pretty wild swings with Stranger Than Heaven, an upcoming action adventure coming to PS5 early next year. You'll probably have heard about recent additions to the cast; this crime thriller, set in Japan across five decades, will feature not only Snoop Dogg but also the late Tupac Shakur. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Preview

A Brief Encounter With Stranger Than Heaven

A brisk 30 minute wander through the streets of Stranger Than Heaven, getting a feel for its unique combat system. The post A Brief Encounter With Stranger Than Heaven

This Week in Video Games / Stuart Kimball

Preview

Stranger Than Heaven Interview: Director Says Tupac is a Good Idea and Confirms Yakuza Story Connections

We interviewed RGG Studio's head Masayoshi Yokoyama about Stranger Than Heaven using Tupac's likeness, story connections to previous games, and incorporating Japanese history.

IGN / Michael Higham

Interview

After an hour with Stranger Than Heaven’s combat, veteran Yakuza fans are in for a shock

RGG is back with a new series, and a brand new combat system

VGC / Jordan Middler

Preview

Stranger Than Heaven's Combat Puts Extra Weight, Thought, and Style Into Every Hit

We went hands on with Stranger Than Heaven, which reshapes the way you'll think about combat in a Ryu Ga Gotoku game.

TechRaptor / Robert Scarpinito

Preview

Tupac Shakur joins Snoop Dogg in Stranger Than Heaven, which also has a release date once you've finished getting over the whole dead rapper cameo business

Right. So. Stranger Than Heaven, the Like A Dragon/Yakuza devs' hop through different decades of 20th century Japanese history? You're probably already aware that Snoop Dogg's in it. Well, a digitally resurrected version of fellow rapper Tupac Shakur's also in it. For reasons. Reasons that I'm sure will be readily apparent when Stranger Than Heaven comes out in January 2027.

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven Release Date Revealed; Tupac Confirmed as a Character

Stranger Than Heaven has a release date and Tupac is in the game... for some reason

IGN / Cade Onder

Release date

Tupac Shakur will appear as a character in Stranger Than Heaven

The late rapper is appearing with permission from his estate

VGC / Chris Scullion

Culture

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN launches January 15, 2027

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and … Source

Gematsu / Sal Romano

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven Confirms January 2027 Release Date and... Tupac

Stranger and stranger. Just weeks after its big Xbox showcase, Stranger Than Heaven has returned to give us a proper release date. As promised, it launches for PS5 this coming winter, on the 15th January 2027. But that's not the biggest talking point here... Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Release date

Ichiban Kasuga’s voice actor will not be appearing in Stranger Than Heaven, bizarre “non-appearance announcement” reveals

Shunsuke Daito, the voice of Mortimer in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, has been confirmed for a role in Stranger Than Heaven, but co-star Kazuhiro Nakaya will not be appearing.

Automaton West / Carlos "Zoto" Zotomayor

Announcement

PS5's Stranger Than Heaven Somehow Got Snoop Dogg and Ado on the Same Song

When can we stream it? Fans are already itching to stream Stranger Than Heaven’s theme song, which is surprisingly performed by musical icons like Snoop Dogg and Ado. The song – debuted as part of last night’s big game reveal – also features performances from Satoshi Fujihara and Tori Kelly. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Culture

Yakuza Dev's Stranger Than Heaven Drops English Dub Option Due to Bilingual Characters

Language barrier. This probably won't come as much of a surprise if you tuned in to last night's showcase, but Stranger Than Heaven won't feature any kind of voice over options, unlike developer RGG Studio's most recent titles. This means that there'll be no dedicated English dub — but there won't be a Japanese-only track, either. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Announcement

Everything you need to know about Stranger Than Heaven, the half-century-spanning Yakuza series prequel

RGG's new historical drama is an origin story for the Tojo Clan's founder Makoto and his rise to power.

PC Gamer / Lauren Morton

Announcement

Snoop Dogg collaborates with Ado in RGG Studio’s Stranger Than Heaven theme song, appears as an in-game character

"Stranger Than Heaven," the theme song to RGG Studio's eponymous game, is performed by Ado, Sosuke Fujihara, Tori Kelly, and Snoop Dogg.

Automaton West / Carlos "Zoto" Zotomayor

Announcement

Yakuza and Like a Dragon developer RGG Studio finally gives Stranger Than Heaven a release window

At this evening's Xbox Presents, which was dedicated entirely to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Stranger Than Heaven, we finally learned when the anticipated action-RPG will launch. At the end of a 30-minute presentation diving into the game's story, combat systems, and characters, the developers revealed the title will be launching 'this winter'.

Eurogamer / Dom Peppiatt

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven's new combat system sounds pretty complicated, but looks absolutely amazing

At this evening's (or morning's, depending on how you look at things) Xbox Presents, we got a very in-depth look at Ryu Ga Gotoku's upcoming title, Stranger Than Heaven. The game, which takes place in five different eras of modern Japanese history - that's 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951 and 1965 - will follow the lifelong friendship of a pair of protagonists and examine how that friendship holds up in the rapidly changing context of the country's vast and complicated 20th Century.

Eurogamer / Dom Peppiatt

Trailer

Stranger than Heaven, out this winter, sees the Yakuza devs blend Snoop Dogg into a musical adventure/Tojo Clan origin story that looks fascinatingly quirky

Right. So. Stranger Than Heaven, the Like A Dragon/Yakuza devs' hop through different decades of 20th century Japanese history? Snoop Dogg's in it. And, also, it's telling the story of how the Tojo Clan - the famous yakuza group Kazuma Kiryu belongs to - came to be founded. Oh, and it'll have you wandering around town sampling the sounds of brooms sweeping and steam trains chugging so that you can turn these into symphonies, as you plunge headlong into a career in band management. All of that an

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven Is a Yakuza Series Origin Story, Out on PS5 This Winter

Gameplay details revealed. Many Yakuza fans were thinking it, and now it's been confirmed: the mysterious Stranger Than Heaven is in fact an origin story for the series, in which the pivotal Tojo Clan is founded. The game's story spans 50 years, and you'll be playing as the same character — Makoto Daito — throughout. RGG Studio's deep dive, which we've embedded below, has all the details. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

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Release date

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN launches this winter

STRANGER THAN HEAVEN will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and … Source

Gematsu / Sal Romano

Release date

Stranger Than Heaven presentation reveals cast and story details for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s next game

The game will be released this winter, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass

VGC / Chris Scullion

Release date

Everything We Learned about Stranger Than Heaven During the Xbox Presents Showcase

RGG Studio has lifted the lid on its next big game, Stranger Than Heaven, at a special Xbox Presents showcase. Here's everything you need to know.

IGN / Cade Onder

Announcement

Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven – Everything We Learned (Including Snoop Dogg’s Role!)

The post Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven – Everything We Learned (Including Snoop Dogg’s Role!) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Wire / Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor

Trailer

Stranger Than Heaven sure looks like a Yakuza series prequel in its first 30-minute deep dive, oh and Snoop Dogg is here

And it's out this winter.

PC Gamer / Morgan Park

Trailer

Xbox Dedicates Entire Showcase To Stranger Than Heaven, Releasing Winter 2026 On Game Pass

"An epic saga of men battling through five eras and five cities.". Today's first edition of the "Xbox Presents" showcase has just finished, with this one being entirely focused on the new RGG Studio game known as Stranger Than Heaven - now confirmed to be releasing at some point in Winter 2026. You can watch the entire showcase up above, which goes into detail about the backstory behind the game, some of the main characters in it (including an appearance from Snoop Dogg), and of course, how the

Pure Xbox

Release date

Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven Airs Next Wednesday – Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The post Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven Airs Next Wednesday – Here’s Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Wire / Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

Announcement

In spreading itself across five cities, Stranger than Heaven might not lean as heavily on one of Like A Dragon's key strengths as I expected

As hinted at by previous peeks at it, which were set in 1915 and 1943, Like A Dragon devs RGG Studio are jumping around in time with their upcoming historical brawler Stranger than Heaven. They've confirmed via a fresh trailer that it's set in five different decades and, arguably more surprisingly, five different Japanese cities.

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Trailer

Stranger than Heaven is Yakuza except set between 1915 and 1965 in five different cities—including Kamurocho

It's a grittier take than the recent Like a Dragon games, but I'm sure it'll still have bonkers mini-games.

PC Gamer / Shaun Prescott

Announcement

'Xbox Presents' Is A New Type Of Showcase Debuting This May For Stranger Than Heaven

A first-of-its-kind standalone broadcast. One of the big reveals at today's Xbox Partner Preview showcase was that of Stranger Than Heaven, which has already been announced by SEGA before, but today got revealed for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere. No release date though! That's seemingly because there's a lot more to be revealed yet — Xbox and SEGA have announced a new showcase taking place on May 6th/7th at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / 12am GMT called "Xbox Presents". Read the full article on purex

Pure Xbox

Announcement

Yakuza studio's new RPG, Stranger than Heaven, will span five distinct time periods and five Japanese cities

At this evening's Xbox Partner Preview, we got a fresh look at Ryu Ga Gotoku's Stranger Than Heaven, as well as news that a dedicated broadcast will air this May.

Eurogamer / Victoria Phillips Kennedy

Announcement