RGG studio leaks

Masayoshi Yokoyama seems largely disinterested in the series he effectively lets Ryosuke Horii handle the heavy lifting while he focuses on his passion project, Stranger Than Heaven.

Yokoyama isn't particularly invested in the current protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga. The plan is to retire him as the lead, likely after Like a Dragon 10, though it could happen as early as the next entry. The intended send-off involves him getting married and settling down to raise a child.

Moving forward, the studio intends to rewrite some of the the Kiryu saga. Since the narrative has essentially been written into a corner with the disbanding of the Yakuza, a reboot allows them to bring Kiryu back as the primary focus and continue releasing games centered around him indefinitely whilst also adding in plot points they can use again for the future.

As for the Judgment series? It’s done. Even if they tried to keep it going, it wouldn't feel the same because it was Nagoshi’s passion project, just like Stranger Than Heaven is Yokoyama’s. Also, there was actually a live-action Judgment show in the works, but that got scrapped back in 2022.

RGG is also getting worried about the games being set in the same year as the real world. That used to be their "thing," but now it’s a problem because the characters are getting way too old. As for what’s coming up next, the plan is for the next game to pick up right after the post-credits scene in Pirate Yakuza and after that they’ll see how they’ll approach this on a case by case basis.