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Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage "Fights" and Confrontation

by Hannah Feb 26,2025

Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

A recent interview with Automaton sheds light on the unique collaborative approach employed by the Like a Dragon development team at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. The developers revealed that constructive conflict and debate are not only tolerated but actively encouraged as a means of enhancing game quality.

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Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

Series director Ryosuke Horii shared that internal disagreements are commonplace and viewed positively. He explained that these "in-fights," particularly between designers and programmers, are seen as opportunities for improvement. The role of the planner, he stated, is to mediate these discussions and ensure they yield constructive results. Horii emphasized that conflict is only valuable if it leads to a tangible improvement in the final product. The key is fostering healthy, productive debate.

Yakuza Like a Dragon Devs, True to Their Game, Encourage

Horii further highlighted the studio's commitment to meritocracy in evaluating ideas. The origin of a suggestion is irrelevant; its quality is the sole determinant of its adoption. However, this open environment doesn't preclude rejection of subpar ideas. The team is unafraid to "mercilessly" dismiss concepts that don't meet their high standards, resulting in a dynamic process of debate and refinement aimed at creating exceptional games.

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