SEGA and RGG Studio have revealed new details about the characters in the action-adventure game Stranger Than Heaven, which is part of the Like a Dragon franchise. The cast will feature Snoop Dogg, Tori Kelly, Ado, and a version of Tupac Shakur, the latter created with permission from his estate.
The title is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, and will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, in addition to being included in Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Pre-orders for the game are already open.
The main plot will be driven by Makoto Daito, portrayed by Yu Shirota. This character, the son of an American father and Japanese mother, faces persecution in the United States and decides to migrate to Japan. The narrative will cover his journey between 1915 and 1965, spanning five distinct eras and five cities.
During his trip to Japan, Daito meets Yu Shinjo, played by Dean Fujioka, who becomes a close friend. Another significant encounter occurs with Orpheus, a merchant portrayed by Snoop Dogg. Upon discovering that Daito entered his ship secretly, Orpheus introduces the protagonist to Japanese reality and recognizes his musical potential.
Details about the Tupac representation
Amaru, a character inspired by Tupac Shakur, is one of the highlights of the cast. SEGA clarified that Amaru's participation was developed under the authorization and continuous supervision of Amaru Entertainment, the entity responsible for the rapper's estate. The character's design was created using archival photographs and images. RGG Studio also assures that no artificial intelligence was used in creating the Tupac representation; the actor who will voice Amaru has yet to be announced.
Another deceased artist represented in the game is the Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, who served as the basis for Genzo Iwaki. In this case, the studio obtained authorization from the family and materials from Toei Company to develop the computer graphics model, with Takashi Ukaji providing the voice acting.
The diverse cast mixes actors, musicians, and comedians. Tori Kelly plays Suzy Day, an artist aspiring to stardom who begins her entertainment career after meeting Daito. Ado takes on the role of Keiko Shirai, presented as an Osaka diva during the war period.
The cast also includes Akio Otsuka as Heigo Yashima, Moeka Hoshi as Tae Matsumoto, Satoshi Fujihara as Takashi, Cordell Broadus as Veiled Stranger, Takashi Ukaji as Tadashi Hataoka, and Takaya Kuroda as Takeo Godai, among others.
The world of entertainment will be a prominent theme in Stranger Than Heaven. Throughout his journey, Daito will find musical inspirations, have the opportunity to compose music, and perform. Music also influences the construction of other characters; Takashi, for example, is described as a skilled pianist whose passion for music is rekindled upon discovering Daito's talents.
This approach adds an extra dimension to the story, which will traverse different periods of the 20th century, tracking the transformations of characters and cities over the five decades depicted.
Stranger Than Heaven will launch on January 15, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, accessible via Steam and Xbox on PC. The title will also be available through Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Pre-sales for physical and digital editions have begun, and those who reserve the game before its release will receive the exclusive weapon Dosu: Kagekiri as a bonus.