Yakuza creators are making the studio's most brutal game ever - details on Stranger Than Heaven

RGG Studio's Stranger Than Heaven will be a prequel to the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series, but it's already clear that it will be one of the studio's toughest and most unusual games.

The developers are preparing a combat system that radically differs from the series' usual formula and requires high precision and adaptation to controls from the player.

A few weeks ago, RGG Studio first showed gameplay of the game and revealed the revamped combat system. Now, the player controls individual body parts using a gamepad – limbs are tied to triggers and bumpers.

This means that punches and kicks are performed via LT/LB and RT/RB, which need to be pressed or held depending on the situation. Journalists who tried the demo at Summer Game Fest note that the system initially seems unintuitive and requires getting used to due to slow attacks and reliance on timings.

Block (B button on Xbox) and parry (B + LB or RB) have also been added, making it easy for newcomers to lose even without considering enemy behavior. Opponents use different attack patterns that need to be learned.

In addition to melee combat, the game features cold and firearms, which further complicates mastering the system. According to journalists, fans of Yakuza and action games in general will have to spend time getting used to the combat, but once mastered, it becomes deep and engaging.

Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027.