Yakuza Games Undergo 10–20 Times More Ethical and Legal Scrutiny Than Typical Projects

The Yakuza (Like a Dragon) franchise is known for its distinctive and sometimes sensitive content. Experts scrutinize it closely to prevent potential issues.

Masayoshi Yokoyama, head of RGG Studio, explained that Yakuza projects undergo very thorough vetting:

“Because of the subject matter, we undergo 10–20 times more legal and ethical reviews than a typical project. We have to be meticulous about everything.”

With Yakuza now on the international stage, development must account for the specific sensitivities of the regions where the game will be sold:

“What may be acceptable to Japanese audiences can be completely unacceptable in another country — even a single line of dialogue or a street sign that alludes to a taboo. We need to resolve all of that before we can launch the title worldwide.”

Source: iXBT.games