Yakuza / Like a Dragon Fans Choosing Upcoming Official Merch, From Cult Clothes, Traffic Cones, and More Bizarre Items

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is engaging fans in a unique way to celebrate. They're giving fans the power to vote on what official merchandise should be created next, with options ranging from the mundane to the delightfully bizarre.

As reported by Automaton, fans have the opportunity to choose from an impressive list of 100 different items. RGG Studio has promised to bring the top two voted items to market within the next two years. While the competition is currently listed in Japanese, fans can still participate by submitting their votes on the official website.

The merchandise options are as varied as the series itself. On one end of the spectrum, you have typical items like a 20th anniversary celebration hoodie and a Yakuza-themed pencil case. On the other end, the choices get much more eccentric, drawing directly from the franchise's famously wild history.

Among the more unusual items up for vote are the cult outfit worn by Munan Suzuki, leader of The Order of Munan Chohept Onast in Yakuza 0, the giant traffic cone Majima uses to ambush Kiryu in Yakuza Kiwami, and the intriguingly named "Puffy Gold Pants." Other quirky options include the sake Majima drinks in a shack in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Akiyama's gold watch, Kiryu's fountain pen from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Kashiwagi's tambourine from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Kiryu's wrestling mask from Yakuza 3, and Saejima's prisoner uniform from Yakuza 4, among many other oddities.

The Yakuza / Like a Dragon series is set to continue its legacy with at least one new release in its 20th anniversary year of 2025. Fans can look forward to Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, scheduled for release on February 21. While RGG Studio made a significant impact with the 10th anniversary release of the beloved prequel Yakuza 0, no similar announcements have been made for later in the year.

Although the idea of two releases in one year might seem ambitious, RGG Studio has a proven track record of rapid development. Over the past five years, they've released an impressive lineup including Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Judgment Remastered, Lost Judgment, Like a Dragon: Ishin, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, along with two Super Monkey Ball games and an enhanced remaster of Virtua Fighter 5. That's a total of nine games, showcasing their ability to deliver quality content at a brisk pace.