Stranger Than Heaven is set for release on January 15, 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Sega is rolling out the cast and music ahead of launch, and a live-action film adaptation is in development at Netflix.
Stranger Than Heaven is RGG Studio's new action-adventure title, announced during Summer Game Fest 2026 with a January 15, 2027 release date. Sega later confirmed the date for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with availability on Game Pass. The game is set across five eras from 1915 to 1965, moving through Kokura, Kure, Osaka, Atami, and a 1965 Shinjuku setting, and was originally planned as a trilogy before being consolidated into one title.
The combat system assigns the protagonist's left and right body halves to separate controls for offense and defense. Hands-on demos at Summer Game Fest and a later media event showed a deliberately slower, defense-focused brawler that drew confusion from reporters used to other action games. RGG Studio said it dropped the polished combat style of the Like a Dragon series to study real amateur fistfights. Players control a half-American, half-Japanese protagonist who stows away on a ship to Japan after losing his parents.
Sega has built the marketing around music and performance. A showbiz system lets the protagonist work as a promoter, gathering sounds and staging shows, and a theater at Tokyo Game Show 2026 screened music videos including unreleased tracks. The cast includes Yu Shirota, Dean Fujioka, Ado, Tori Kelly, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac, with the late Bunta Sugawara appearing via archival materials provided by Toei Company with his family's consent.
Sega said the game passed 1 million wishlist registrations worldwide, the highest pre-release count for an RGG Studio title. Netflix and Sega are developing a live-action crime film based on the game. Sega has not announced a distribution date for the film.
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The 44th Golden Joystick Awards opened public voting for 21 categories, closing October 23. Big Walk and 007 First Light each appear in five categories, tied for the most nominations for a title. Resident Evil Requiem has three, the most for a Japan-origin title. The Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist arrives October 26, and the ceremony is set for November 11.
Sega streamed an in-depth video for Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's Stranger Than Heaven, previously codenamed Project Century, covering musical inspiration, song creation, and show promotion. The game launches January 15 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, and will be available via Game Pass. Its story follows Makoto Daito across Japan's modern history, from 1915 Kokura to 1965 Kamurocho.
Sega published details on 17 characters in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN on September 24, 2026, the company's new RGG Studio title for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The roster includes protagonist Shin Daito, played by Yu Shirota, alongside Yu Mashiro, a stowaway aboard the same ghost ship who aims for Japan and is played by Dean Fujioka. Genzo Iwaki, the great boss of Wu, is played by Bunta Sugawara with Tsuyoshi Ukaji on voice. Keiko Shirai, described in the materials as a songstress in wartime Osaka, is played by Ado. Screenshots accompanied the character information. The game is scheduled to release on January 15, 2027. The reveal followed the title's stage events at Tokyo Game Show 2026, including a Toei Company collaboration tied to Battles Without Honor and Humanity and the duet song Climb On by Yu Shirota and Dean Fujioka.
Sega showed a cutscene from its action-adventure game STRANGER THAN HEAVEN during a live broadcast tied to Tokyo Game Show 2026. The footage centers on Keiko Shirai, the character played by singer Ado, and the scene was described as close to Keiko's first appearance in the game. Actor Takaya Kuroda, who hosted the September 20 talk and live stage, called Ado's acting "too good." STRANGER THAN HEAVEN is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Sega lists four editions: a standard download version at 8,990 yen, a standard physical version at 9,900 yen, a Deluxe Edition at 11,990 yen, and a Collector's Edition at 18,000 yen. The stream was titled Fan Time SHOW Special Live Broadcast -DAY4-.
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe and TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall, trial play tickets for several titles ended distribution on September 19, per the official X accounts of each title. Final Fantasy VII Revelation used a numbered ticket system for safety reasons, and distribution for the day closed at 9:24 AM once the planned number was reached. Persona 4 Revival tickets at the Sega/Atlus booth ended at 9:34 AM. Earth Defense Force 6.2 tickets at the D3P booth appeared to end at 10:28 AM. Distribution also ended for Final Fantasy Resonance, Romancing SaGa 3 Destiny United, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, Ace Combat 8, GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT, Yu-Gi-Oh! TAG FORCE GX, and others. Social media posts included 'Already over!?' and 'So it's one of those that you can't make even with a opening dash.'
Sega has announced that Daisuke Shiba of the comedy duo Mogurider will appear in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC action-adventure game due January 15, 2027. He plays a character who turns up in the final part of the story and becomes acquainted with the protagonist. Executive Director Masayoshi Yokoyama said Shiba's hairstyle decided the casting.
Sega showed the opening of Stranger Than Heaven during the TGS2026 Special Opening Night Live stream on September 16. The action-adventure from RGG Studio opens with a young man mistaken for a murderer and chased by police; he misses the ship he meant to board, and the escape becomes the tutorial fight. The title is set across five eras and locations from 1915 to 1965: Kokura in 1915, Kure in 1929, Osaka in 1943, Atami in 1951, and Shinjuku in 1965. Protagonist Shin Oto grows through everyday actions, with movement raising stamina and mahjong raising spirit. The stream also revealed Showbiz, a music production system where Oto works as a promoter, gathering sounds around town, writing songs with composers, hiring singers and musicians, and staging shows with effects such as smoke and confetti. Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled for January 15, 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Sega launched SEGAWAY, an owned media site, on September 15, 2026. The outlet presents Sega's corporate mission, Empower the Gamers, and covers the company's culture across art, video, and sound. Two articles are live at launch. One covers the joint NVIDIA and Sega gamer event held in Akihabara in July 2026 and includes a special interview video in which former Sega president Shoichiro Irimajiri and Virtua Fighter creator Yu Suzuki look back at the 1990s, the period of the shift from 2D to 3D. The other reports on the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026. Sega also renewed SEGA TECH BLOG, which carries technical information about its game development. SEGAWAY will publish event reports and special videos and creator interviews for the RGG Studio title STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, set for release on January 15, 2027. Content starts in Japanese, with English planned.
Netflix and Sega announced a partnership on September 15 to adapt Sega game properties into film and television. Three projects are in production. A live-action comedy film based on Crazy Taxi is the first, with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand writing the script. Neal H. Moritz and Toby Ascher, who produced the Sonic the Hedgehog films, produce with Sega's Toru Nakahara. A new animated Sonic the Hedgehog children's series is aimed at upper preschoolers, with Carlos Stevens and Nakahara producing. A live-action crime film based on Stranger Than Heaven, the Ryu ga Gotoku Studio game set in early 20th-century Japan, is also in development, with Nakahara producing. Genres span live-action comedy, kids anime, and live-action crime action. No distribution dates were announced.
Sega will stream a STRANGER THAN HEAVEN special program on YouTube at 20:00 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the eve of Tokyo Game Show 2026. The broadcast will show new footage of the game, walk through the demo playable at the show, and spotlight the Fukuoka/Kokura, Hiroshima/Kure and Osaka/Minami settings, whose townscapes and adventure elements are shown for the first time. Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, chief director Ryosuke Horii and MC Haruka Mori appear.
Sega announced on September 3 that STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, the new action adventure game from RGG Studio, has surpassed 1 million wishlist registrations worldwide. The publisher called this the highest pre-release count ever for an RGG Studio title. The game is set for release on January 15, 2027, across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud. It is a dramatic adventure depicting men living through upheaval in Japan across five locations and five eras starting in 1915. Players control protagonist Daito Shin's right and left halves separately for offense and defense, with a control feel described as being Daito himself. The cast includes Yu Shirota, Dean Fujioka, Snoop Dogg, Moehka Hoshi, Tori Kelly, Akio Otsuka, Tokuma Nishioka, Satoshi Fujihara, Cordell Broadus, Ado, and Takeshi Ujiki as Bunta Sugawara, with special appearances by Bunta Sugawara and Tupac. Pre-orders are open, with the weapon Dos Kagegiri as a bonus. Editions include Standard, Deluxe, and a limited Collector's Edition with an analog record and steelbook.
RGG Studio, the team behind the Like a Dragon series, is making Stranger Than Heaven, a new action-adventure game set for release on January 15, 2027, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game follows Mahiro Oto, a young man of American and Japanese parentage, across five eras and cities: 1915 Kokura, 1929 Kure, 1943 Osaka, 1951 Atami, and 1965 Shinjuku. In an interview at gamescom 2026, producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto and director Mikinori Abe discussed how they deliberately abandoned the refined, cool combat style honed over 20 years of Like a Dragon games. Instead, they studied real fistfights between amateurs, finding that real brawls are gritty and messy, not clean. The game features a unique battle system where players control the left and right sides of the body separately, including separate guards for left and right attacks. The team, known for making fights look cool, had to correct each motion to remove martial-arts-like polish. The result is a raw, muddy brawl that emphasizes weight and realism over flashy effects.
Sega announced the guest lineup for the Stranger Than Heaven stage at its Sega/Atlus booth during Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe. The event spans five days, with both special stages and gameplay stages scheduled. Actor Tsuyoshi Ukaji is set to appear on the September 18 special stage, while professional wrestler Kenny Omega joins the gameplay stage on September 19. Voice actor Akio Otsuka takes the special stage on the same day. The September 20 lineup includes streamer kson on the gameplay stage, with the special stage guest still listed as coming soon. The final day, September 21, features Ushizawa on the gameplay stage and a special last stage with actors Yu Shirota and Dean Fujioka. Sega plans to stream each stage program on the RGG Studio official YouTube channel.
Sega began accepting advance applications on August 17 for the Stranger Than Heaven theater at Tokyo Game Show 2026. The theater, located inside the Sega/Atlus booth at Makuhari Messe, will screen music videos from the game, including unreleased tracks. The lottery applies only to screenings on the public days, September 19 to 21, and the application period runs until August 23. Applicants choose from three programs, each tied to a different character. Program 1 features Daito Makoto portrayed by Yu Shirota, Masaki Yu portrayed by Dean Fujioka, and Takashi portrayed by Satoshi Fujihara of Official HIGE DANdism. Program 2 features Shirai Keiko portrayed by Ado, and Program 3 features Susie Day portrayed by Tori Kelly. Applications are limited to one per person, and tickets cover only the applicant, not companions. Winners will be notified by email from late August to early September. A separate ticket for the TGS2026 public days is required for entry. Some screenings may allow visitors without reservations, and standby handling may be implemented depending on the day's conditions.
4Gamer's weekly official streaming roundup covers three programs for the week of August 5. A joint Ryū ga Gotoku Studio TV special on August 5 at 19:30 will reveal the STRANGER THAN HEAVEN exhibit details for Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17. G-MODE NEXT PREVIEW streams a 15-minute digest of notable titles at 20:00 the same day. Granblue Fantasy holds a summer special from the EXTRA Fes 2026 Osaka venue on August 8 at 16:00.
Sega and RGG Studio announced the Tokyo Game Show 2026 exhibition details for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN during the August 5 broadcast of the joint special program Ryu ga Gotoku TV and Ryu ga Gotoku TV Free Information Center. The booth at Makuhari Messe will offer a playable demo based on the battle version shown at past media events, with adjustments and updates. A theater will screen music videos including unreleased songs, with three programs featuring characters voiced by Ado and others, requiring reservations except for some parts. The Walkthrough Museum is a hands-on exhibit themed around the five eras in the game, showing interviews with cast and developers. Stage events run all five days with guest talks and audience-participation demo play, streamed on the RGG Studio and Sega official YouTube channels. Venue novelties include original fans, neck straps, and an analog stick cover for those who confirm a reservation. A special clear card goes to visitors who show confirmation of joining the official Discord server, which launched August 5. New STRANGER THAN HEAVEN merchandise, including a logo pin badge, key visual T-shirt, and resin college ring, will be sold at the Sega/Atlus merchandise corner. The game releases January 15, 2027.
Sega and RGG Studio announced on July 17 that the 52nd episode of their official program 'Ryusta TV' will air on July 23 at 20:00 JST, featuring the first live gameplay demonstration of the upcoming title 'Stranger Than Heaven.' The stream, which will be broadcast on YouTube Live and Nico Nico Live, is set to show the game's combat system in action for the first time. A voice actor from the series, who played Chitose Fujimiya in 'Like a Dragon 8,' will handle the controller in what the studio is calling the world's fastest live stream of the game. Masayoshi Yokoyama, executive director of the title and RGG Studio representative, producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and MC Ayano Moriyama will also appear. 'Stranger Than Heaven' is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Sega Sammy Holdings has confirmed four major titles for release in the fiscal year ending March 2027, including 'STRANGER THAN HEAVEN' on January 15, 2027, and 'Persona 4 Revival' on February 18, 2027. The lineup also includes two new major IP titles, though their identities remain unclear. The company cited strong trailer viewership for its upcoming games but acknowledged that recent releases like 'SHINOBI: Revenge of the Slash' and 'Sonic Racing CrossWorlds' fell short of sales expectations, prompting plans for organizational and sales reforms.
RGG Studio held a Japanese media hands-on event and joint interview for its new title Stranger Than Heaven, scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Executive director Masayoshi Yokoyama revealed that the game was originally planned as a trilogy before being consolidated into one title. The story follows half-American, half-Japanese protagonist Makoto Oto across five eras from 1915 to 1965, starting in Kokura and ending in Shinjuku. Yokoyama said the setting was chosen to explore how organized crime formed, a question left unanswered by the Yakuza series. The combat system assigns each of the protagonist's limbs to a trigger button, requiring players to parry and counter enemy attacks from specific directions. Yokoyama emphasized the game is not a Yakuza spin-off but a completely new title with its own UI, systems, and tone. The demo featured stronger enemies to teach the controls, with the final version adjusted for smoother pacing. Show business elements, where players collect sounds to produce performances, serve as the protagonist's primary means of income and social standing.
RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama posted a video clarifying that Takaya Kuroda, who voices Takeo Godai in the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven, did not undergo face capture. Kuroda denied having his face scanned, joking that he has a softer face. The game is set for release on January 15, 2027.
At Summer Game Fest 2026, held June 6-8 in Los Angeles, Sega and RGG Studio offered the first playable demo of "Stranger Than Heaven," a new action-adventure IP set in an alternate Japan from 1915 to 1965. The demo, playable at the Play Days event, featured three combat-focused stages: 1915 Kokura (beginner), 1929 Kure (intermediate), and 1943 Osaka Minami (advanced). The game's signature combat system assigns left and right body halves to separate controller buttons and triggers, requiring players to consciously control each limb. Multiple outlets reported initial confusion with the controls, noting that muscle memory from other action games caused errors. The advanced stage pitted players against a shirtless katana-wielding boss who could kill in a few hits. Reporters from 4Gamer, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark, and Inside all described the boss as a tough but fair instructor that taught the importance of parrying and guarding. The game is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and will be available on Game Pass from day one.
A 30-minute hands-on preview of Stranger Than Heaven at Summer Game Fest 2026 reveals combat that requires deliberate left/right body control, directional parrying, and stamina management. The Yakuza universe prequel spans five eras and follows Makoto Daito from San Francisco to Japan. The demo covered three eras: Kokura 1915, Kure 1929, and Osaka 1943.
Sega will broadcast the 51st episode of Ryuga Sta TV on June 15, 2026, featuring Yasufumi Motomiya, who plays Tetsuya Hama in the upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven. The show will discuss the game's characters voiced by Snoop Dogg and Tupac, and include a segment on Virtua Fighter Crossroads with producer Riichiro Yamada.
RGG Studio, the developer behind the Yakuza series, announced during the Summer Game Fest 2026 livestream on June 5 that its new title Stranger Than Heaven will launch on January 15, 2027. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, and it will be included in Xbox Game Pass from day one. A new trailer revealed additional cast members, including American rapper Tupac (credited as 2Pac), alongside previously announced actors such as Yu Shirota as protagonist Makoto Daito and Snoop Dogg as Orpheus. The story spans 50 years across five eras and five Japanese cities: Kokura in 1915, Kure in 1929, Osaka in 1943, Atami in 1951, and the fictional Kamurocho in 1965. The narrative follows Makoto, a half-American, half-Japanese boy who stows away on a ship to Japan after losing his parents, and his encounters that shape the founding of the Tojo Clan. The game's theme song is performed by Snoop Dogg, Satoshi Fujihara, Ado, and Tori Kelly. Sega also confirmed that the late actor Bunta Sugawara appears as a character, with his family's consent and archival materials provided by Toei Company.