Stranger Than Heaven
News, coverage and analysis tracking Stranger Than Heaven across the outlets.
Famitsu’s most wanted games – July 5, 2026 – Xenoblade Genesis makes first appearance, Zelda moves upFamitsu's latest most wanted games chart reveals Xenoblade Genesis making its debut, while The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time climbs the rankings. Pokemon Winds and Waves maintain their usual lead in reader votes. The chart reflects Japanese gamers' anticipation for upcoming titles, with new entries appearing following recent summer showcases.
Somewhere between QWOP and Tekken, Stranger Than Heaven has one of the most interesting combat systems I've played in some timeStranger Than Heaven features a unique and interesting combat system that maps left and right limbs to controller bumpers and triggers, allowing for complex offensive and defensive maneuvers. While initially difficult to grasp, the system rewards players who adapt to its rhythmic, timing-based dueling, offering a fresh take on the genre. The game is a distant prequel to the Like a Dragon series, developed by Ryu Ga Gokotu Studio.
Stranger Than Heaven Hands-on Preview - Intuitive, deeply challenging combatStranger Than Heaven, a prequel to the Like a Dragon series from RGG Studio, features a deeply challenging and intuitive combat system that blends elements of Yakuza's melee and Dark Souls' punishing difficulty. The preview highlights the game's intricate combat mechanics, including blocking, dodging, environmental interactions, and a variety of enemy types. The game is set to release on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
'It May Seem Like We're Only Doing It for Attention': Stranger Than Heaven Dev Discusses Celebrity Castings, Including TupacRGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama addressed criticisms regarding the use of celebrity likenesses, including Tupac Shakur, in the upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven. Yokoyama stated his intention is for players to focus on gameplay and narrative, not the casting choices, and that Tupac's inclusion was facilitated by Snoop Dogg and approved by Tupac's family.
Stranger Than Heaven studio don't intend their "casting choices [to] take the spotlight and overshadow everything else", despite that now having happened two games runningRGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that the inclusion of Tupac Shakur in Stranger Than Heaven and Teruyuki Kagawa in Yakuza Kiwami 3 was not intended to overshadow the games' gameplay and narrative. He clarified that the studio aims for celebrity casting to elevate the overall work, citing examples from Yakuza 0 where actors were perfectly suited for their roles. However, the article argues that these specific casting choices have indeed drawn significant attention and controversy, potentially detracting from the games themselves.
Sega plans to release two unnamed 'new titles from flagship IP' in FY2027Sega has revealed plans to release two unannounced titles from its flagship intellectual properties within the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027. These new games will be released alongside Stranger Than Heaven and Persona 4 Revival, which are also slated for the same fiscal year. The company also mentioned plans for four or more "mainstay titles" in FY2028.
SEGA Shares Lifetime Sales Update for Persona, Metaphor, and Like a DragonSEGA has released updated lifetime sales figures for several of its role-playing titles, including the Persona, Metaphor, and Like a Dragon series. Persona 5 Royal leads the pack with 8.66 million units sold, while newer titles like Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio have also shown strong performance. The company is closely monitoring the performance of these franchises as it plans future releases.
Famitsu’s most wanted games – June 21, 2026 – Pokemon Winds and Waves keep on winnningThe latest Famitsu most wanted games chart reveals that Pokemon Winds and Waves is the most anticipated game among Japanese gamers, according to reader votes cast between June 3 and June 9. Anomalith for Nintendo Switch 2 makes its debut on the list, while other anticipated titles include Splatoon Raiders and Persona 4 Revival.- Stranger Than Heaven Second-Take Preview: Stranger Than Heaven’s Combat Seems Harder Than Hell, and that’s a Good ThingA preview of Stranger Than Heaven suggests its combat system offers a greater challenge than the typical Like a Dragon brawling, indicating RGG Studio's intent to innovate with the new series prequel. This second look features editor Tristan Ogilvie's impressions after an earlier hands-on by Michael Higham.
- Tupac’s presence in Stranger Than Heaven somehow gets even more bizarre after developer interviewAn interview with the developers of Stranger Than Heaven has shed further light on the bizarre inclusion of Tupac Shakur in the game. The discussion delves into the creative decisions and inspirations behind this unusual element.
Second Ado Utattemita Album Cover Song Voting OpensAdo has opened a worldwide voting poll for her second Utattemita album, allowing fans to choose songs she will cover. The voting period runs until June 21, 2026, with the album slated for a winter release between December 2026 and March 2027. Fans can select genres like J-pop, Western music, or Vocaloid, and must provide song title, artist, and personal details to cast their vote. Ado is also involved in the upcoming game Stranger than Heaven, where she appears as a character and performs the theme song.- Stranger Than Heaven's Combat Will Challenge You Like A Souls Game | IGN PreviewStranger Than Heaven features a slower, more calculated combat system that differentiates it from the Yakuza series. While currently a bit rough, the combat shows significant potential for challenging players in a Souls-like manner.
Summer Games Week: The Biggest Reveals, Interviews, And FeaturesSummer Games Week, the successor to E3, concluded with numerous reveals, interviews, and features from various showcases like State of Play and Summer Game Fest. GameSpot covered a wide array of upcoming titles, including Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Resident Evil: Veronica, and Gears of War: E-Day, providing previews and in-depth articles.
Stranger Than Heaven will explore Tupac's "potential future" if "he was still alive now", according to RGG studio headRGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama discussed the decision to include a digitally resurrected Tupac Shakur in the upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven. The inclusion was inspired by Snoop Dogg's role and the real-life relationship between the two artists, with the studio aiming to explore a potential future for Tupac rather than recreate his past. RGG Studio obtained approval from both Tupac's family and his estate for his likeness.
Stranger Than Heaven: We Grapple with RGG Studio’s New Combat SystemRGG Studio's upcoming game, Stranger Than Heaven, features a drastically different combat system compared to their previous titles, focusing on granular, trigger-and-bumper-based controls for independent limb attacks and weapon usage. The game is set to release on January 15, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be available day one on Game Pass. Players will experience a fifty-year saga across five distinct eras and cities in Japan, with a combat system that emphasizes realism and brutality, alongside a unique 'showman' career path for the protagonist.
Stranger Than Heaven director says GTA 6 may force devs to use generative AIMasayoshi Yokoyama, Executive Director at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, suggests that the immense scale of Grand Theft Auto 6 might compel developers to adopt generative AI for future game development to remain economically viable. While Stranger Than Heaven does not use AI, Yokoyama believes that if player expectations shift towards games of GTA 6's magnitude, generative AI could become a necessity for smaller teams to create comparable titles.- Stranger Than Heaven Director Addresses Concerns Over Tupac's InclusionThe director of the game Stranger Than Heaven has responded to concerns regarding the inclusion of Tupac Shakur. The article addresses the controversy surrounding the casting choice.
Round Up: Stranger Than Heaven Makes a Strong Impression with Its Unique Melee CombatSEGA and RGG Studio's upcoming action-adventure game, Stranger Than Heaven, is generating buzz for its unique melee combat system, which allows players to control the protagonist's left and right sides independently. While some previews praise the system's depth and potential, others express reservations about its execution and camera control. The game is set to release on PlayStation 5 early next year and features a cast including Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur.- Stranger Than Heaven Interview: Director Says Tupac is a Good Idea and Confirms Yakuza Story ConnectionsRGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama discussed Stranger Than Heaven, confirming its story connections to previous Yakuza games and the decision to use Tupac Shakur's likeness. The interview also touched upon the incorporation of Japanese history into the game's narrative.
- Stranger than Heaven hands-on: Harder than Yakuza?Stranger than Heaven, the latest title from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, features a completely new fighting system set in mid-twentieth century Japan. The article suggests the game may be more challenging than the Yakuza series.