Credit goes to Dojima's Dragon Girl, an amazing site that translates Japanese interviews and other content for the series. There's quite a few interesting tidbits that have come out from TGS on the wake of the new announcements. Some good, some... not quite so good. Its well worth reading the entire thing, but Ive noted the biggest points below:
Ryu ga Gotoku Round Up Special – Tokyo Game Show 2022
Lots of info to chew through, read at your own risk as there is spoilers for 7's story mentioned in the link. Choice parts of the interviews:
Kenzan Kiwami wont happen. It apparently has been deemed "impossible to remake". Which I think is a little harsh (I adore the game) and think the tone could be altered slightly with a couple of Haruka scenes to hammer home the levity of the scenario and actual Japanese history, but that's just me. But yeah, it wont happen, they said so much would be changed that it'd basically be a new game.
Ishin Kiwami has been in dev for over a year now.
RGGS speak very highly of the overseas fans and localisers. Seems that the series overseas support has swelled to around 70% of series sales? now. Which is insane. It was around 50:50 back when 0 and 6 were released, and its only gotten more and more (PC no doubt has been the main culprit here)
Gaiden is sort of a "what's Kiryu been up to" story which will also introduce those that started with 7 with his character in more detail. Once again they basically said they wont spend that much time with his backstory in 8.
Speaking of 8, they said while writing the game, they realised they needed to use Kiryu again. Hence his inclusion, and to flesh his backstory out, Gaiden was conceived.
8 brings back Namba, Saeko and Adachi, as expected. Yay!
While it was hinted in 7 and Lost Judgment, they outright confirm that the Judge and RGG series take place in the same universe. If they think there's need to have them cross over, they will. So... I really hope that happens at some point in the future.
Mainline RGG games will take around 4! years to make now. Which lines up, 7 was in 2020, 8 wont be here until 2024. Crazy we've gone from one a year to one every 4 years!
Ishin's story/content is getting trimmed (cut) slightly. Ive no clue what this might mean though, I dont recall anything particularly offensive in there.
HUGE news, as Oreo is now recast in Ishin Kiwami - now played by Yuki from 0/Kiwami 2. Huge upgrade, I cant stand her in Ishin, maybe the talented Yuki VA will make her a bit more likeable? Here's hoping.
They again reiterate that they are experimenting with engines but nothing's set in stone (its mentioned in another interview I've seen that 8 remains on the DE, for those wondering).
One OK Rocks main title song for Ishin is cut... yeah I aint happy about that. Hopefully the sound team in Ishin Kiwami dont fuck things up as bad as they did in Kiwami 2 (because that was one of the worst cuts that Kiwami 2 saw). Also makes mention that other parts of Ishin's soundtrack is changed. If that means the final boss theme gets changed, Im gonna be displeased.
Speaking of Ishin music, there's a mini game in it which is basically Karaoke (people sing, you press buttons in time to the music). There's several "new" songs getting added, which will be remixes of previous series songs. Bakamitai is already confirmed. There's also a brand new song getting added.
Notes on 8s story:
There's is mention of Switch again. Apparently they were misquoted... but I still dont get the excuse given in the interview. Read it for yourself and let me know... still feels weird not putting at least the old games on Switch, they'd run fine (they are PS3 games ffs)
Ryu ga Gotoku Round Up Special – Tokyo Game Show 2022
Lots of info to chew through, read at your own risk as there is spoilers for 7's story mentioned in the link. Choice parts of the interviews:
Kenzan Kiwami wont happen. It apparently has been deemed "impossible to remake". Which I think is a little harsh (I adore the game) and think the tone could be altered slightly with a couple of Haruka scenes to hammer home the levity of the scenario and actual Japanese history, but that's just me. But yeah, it wont happen, they said so much would be changed that it'd basically be a new game.
Ishin Kiwami has been in dev for over a year now.
RGGS speak very highly of the overseas fans and localisers. Seems that the series overseas support has swelled to around 70% of series sales? now. Which is insane. It was around 50:50 back when 0 and 6 were released, and its only gotten more and more (PC no doubt has been the main culprit here)
Gaiden is sort of a "what's Kiryu been up to" story which will also introduce those that started with 7 with his character in more detail. Once again they basically said they wont spend that much time with his backstory in 8.
Speaking of 8, they said while writing the game, they realised they needed to use Kiryu again. Hence his inclusion, and to flesh his backstory out, Gaiden was conceived.
8 brings back Namba, Saeko and Adachi, as expected. Yay!
While it was hinted in 7 and Lost Judgment, they outright confirm that the Judge and RGG series take place in the same universe. If they think there's need to have them cross over, they will. So... I really hope that happens at some point in the future.
Mainline RGG games will take around 4! years to make now. Which lines up, 7 was in 2020, 8 wont be here until 2024. Crazy we've gone from one a year to one every 4 years!
Ishin's story/content is getting trimmed (cut) slightly. Ive no clue what this might mean though, I dont recall anything particularly offensive in there.
HUGE news, as Oreo is now recast in Ishin Kiwami - now played by Yuki from 0/Kiwami 2. Huge upgrade, I cant stand her in Ishin, maybe the talented Yuki VA will make her a bit more likeable? Here's hoping.
They again reiterate that they are experimenting with engines but nothing's set in stone (its mentioned in another interview I've seen that 8 remains on the DE, for those wondering).
One OK Rocks main title song for Ishin is cut... yeah I aint happy about that. Hopefully the sound team in Ishin Kiwami dont fuck things up as bad as they did in Kiwami 2 (because that was one of the worst cuts that Kiwami 2 saw). Also makes mention that other parts of Ishin's soundtrack is changed. If that means the final boss theme gets changed, Im gonna be displeased.
Speaking of Ishin music, there's a mini game in it which is basically Karaoke (people sing, you press buttons in time to the music). There's several "new" songs getting added, which will be remixes of previous series songs. Bakamitai is already confirmed. There's also a brand new song getting added.
Notes on 8s story:
Its doing exactly what I expected going off 7's ending - they are looking into the after effects of the disillusion of the two biggest Yakuza groups in Japan. Not sure how LJs plot will play into it, but seeing as they confirmed they are part of the same universe, ideally they shouldnt discount that plot and instead at least make mention of it
There's is mention of Switch again. Apparently they were misquoted... but I still dont get the excuse given in the interview. Read it for yourself and let me know... still feels weird not putting at least the old games on Switch, they'd run fine (they are PS3 games ffs)
