Like a Dragon Series Faces 10–20 Times More Legal and Ethical Reviews Than Standard Games
The Like a Dragon series, known for its raw portrayal of Japan’s criminal underworld, faces an extraordinary level of scrutiny during development. According to Masayoshi Yokoyama, director of RGG Studio and executive producer of the series, each title undergoes 10 to 20 times more legal and ethical reviews than a standard video game a reflection of the team’s ongoing challenge to present dark, mature themes without crossing societal lines.
Yokoyama discussed the unique hurdles in portraying the underground world during a conversation with Hiroyuki Miyasako, the actor reprising his role as antagonist Tsuyoshi Kanda in the upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 remake. Miyasako recalled Kanda’s infamous introduction scene from the original as being “almost uncensorable,” prompting Yokoyama to jokingly reply, “No, it’s just a massage scene.”
He later admitted, however, that calling it a “massage” was merely a workaround to clear the ethics review at the time. “With the content of the game, we need to go through ten or twenty times more legal and ethical audits than regular games,” Yokoyama explained. “We have to be careful about everything.”
The scrutiny isn’t limited to Japan. The series’ global expansion significantly increases the complexity of the vetting process. “Something that’s acceptable in Japan might be banned in another country,” Yokoyama noted. “Even a single word in dialogue or a street sign resembling something prohibited can be an issue.”
Age ratings also present a critical challenge. Most entries in the series are rated CERO D (for players aged 17 and older), but a CERO Z rating (18+) would restrict their placement in stores, relegating them to adult media sections and directly impacting sales. “We had to balance intense, adult storytelling with the rating constraints in each country,” Yokoyama said. “It’s not easy, but because this series is a coming-of-age drama exploring the dark side of Japanese society, we must convey those truths as realistically as possible without crossing ethical lines.”
The upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 is an Extreme Remake of the beloved action-adventure title Yakuza 3, following former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu as he fights to protect those he loves. It also introduces a brand-new mode, DARK TIES, which tells the story of Yoshitaka Mine in a standalone, action-packed narrative.
