Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s Dondoko Island Furniture Came From Reused Game Assets

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's Dondoko Island: A Minigame That Grew

The lead designer of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Michiko Hatoyama, recently revealed the secrets behind Dondoko Island's surprising scale. Initially conceived as a smaller minigame, it blossomed into a massive undertaking thanks to clever asset reuse.

Hatoyama explained in an interview with Automaton that the project expanded organically. The key was repurposing existing assets from the extensive Yakuza series library. Instead of painstakingly creating each piece of furniture, the team cleverly edited and reused existing models, crafting individual items "in a matter of minutes" – a stark contrast to the days or even months typically required for new asset creation.

This efficient approach allowed for a dramatic increase in the number of furniture recipes and a significant expansion of Dondoko Island itself. The goal, Hatoyama emphasized, was to provide players with diverse and engaging gameplay. The result is a sprawling island and a vast array of furniture options, empowering players to transform a humble garbage dump into a luxurious resort.

Released on January 25, 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (the ninth mainline Yakuza title) has been lauded for its innovative gameplay, and Dondoko Island stands out as a testament to RGG Studio's resourcefulness and commitment to player enjoyment. Its impressive scale, achieved through smart asset management, offers players countless hours of immersive island-building fun.