During todayâs Xbox Partner Preview, a showcase for Microsoftâs upcoming third-party games, we got a new look at Segaâs next Yakuza adventure. No, not Gaiden, the other one: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Instead of showing off dual protagonists Ichiban Kasuga and Kiryu Kazuma kicking all kinds of street punk ass across Hawaii, todayâs trailer pumped the brakes and gave us a peek at its madcap new Animal Crossing-inspired game mode.
Infinite Wealthâs new Happy Resort Dondoko Island mode will have you managing your own island resort. Like Nintendoâs cozy 2020 life simulator Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can go fishing on the beach, customize the islandâs buildings and furniture, and have Ichiban craft special DIY projects. The similarities between Dondoko Island and AC:NH donât end there. DonDonki Island will also let you forge friendships with the island getawayâs many outlandishly dressed tourists while you manage the islandâs influx of funds and infrastructure just like Animal Crossingâs Tom Nook.
Hereâs the trailer:
Dondoko Island may provide Ichiban and company some much-needed reprieve from the melodrama of his crime-riddled life, but that doesnât mean you wonât have to sock a couple of uninvited guests along the wayâthis is a Yakuza game after all. Along with making sure everyone is having a good time on the island, youâll also have to defend it from intruders.
This isnât the first time the Yakuza series has turned a Nintendo game like AC:NH into its own game mode. In fact, Yakuza: Like a Dragon had Mario Kart-esque and PokĂ©mon-inspired stints in the form of Dragon Kart Racing and Sujimon, respectively. Aside from providing players with a fun alternative to punching fools, these minigames were also a great way to earn a bunch of cash to purchase health items and upgrades for the main campaignâs challenging boss fights.

But not everything is about the money. Sometimes you just need to sit back, grab a guitar, and sing karaoke in front of a roaring bonfire. Catch a vibe, if you will. I can already see myself ignoring Infinite Wealthâs main quest to sink countless hours into perfecting my island fortress. Speaking as a longtime Yakuza enjoyer, January canât come soon enough.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth launches on January 26 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Windows.
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