Fans who were hoping to grab a physical version ofLike a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Nameupon release are unlikely to be able to do so, according to some newly surfaced information. The newest entry in the recently rebrandedYakuzafranchise was treated to a gameplay reveal and release date announcement at Summer Game Fest 2023, with a portion of the fandom excitinglylabelingLike a Dragon Gaidenas a perfect return to form for the series.
Sincephysical game sales continue to suffer from a substantial decline, many publishers are growing increasingly more wary of committing resources to boxed releases. Sega hasn’t been an exception to that trend, as most recently underlined by its 2022 game compilationSonic Origins, which was a digital-only title. The Japanese gaming giant did eventually revert that particular decision by greenlighting a physical version ofSonic Origins Plus, an expanded edition of the bundle which is scheduled to hit the store shelves on June 23.
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Yet Sega apparently remains reluctant to commit to physical releases moving forward, with YouTube channel KamurochoBros reporting that the English-language version ofLike a Dragon Gaidenwill only be available digitally. This information comes from a second-hand account citing retailers who allegedly discussed the matter with Sega. The claim itself does seem to help explain whyLike a Dragon Gaidenis set to debut at $49.99, not least because publishers often highlight reduced introductory prices as one of the main advantages of digital-only releases.
While Sega has yet to confirm that the West won’t receive a physical edition ofLike a Dragon Gaiden, its omission from the game’s pre-order page that went live on June 8 already implied as much. As things stand right now, fans looking to grab a boxed copy of the game will have to resort to importing one from the Far East, seeing how only the Japanese version ofLike a Dragon Gaidenwill apparently be getting a physical release.
And though it’s plausible that this isn’t the last ofSega’s planned 2023 gamesthat won’t be widely distributed physically, there’s reason to believe thatLike a Dragon Gaidenisn’t necessarily a sign of a digital-only future for the hit series. After all, theLike a Dragon: Ishinremake was just treated to a global physical release back in February.
Furthermore, Sega already confirmed thatLike a Dragon Gaidenwill be a smaller-scale gamecompared to the past installments in the franchise. It’s hence possible that its reserved distribution strategy is merely a reflection of the game’s more niche appeal, which its very title already hints at, seeing how “gaiden” is a Japanese term for a side story.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Namelaunches November 9 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
