Sega files trademark for "Yakuza Wars" in Japan

It has been spotted that Sega has filed a new trademark for “Yakuza Wars,” leading to speculations that a new Like a Dragon spin-off is on the way.

The details:

• As spotted by Gematsu, the trademark was registered in Japan on July 26 and became public over the weekend. Although it has not been announced, the filing is thought to be related to Like a Dragon, which was previously known as Yakuza in the west.

• The trademark is confirmed to be related to video games, and the use of the Yakuza name has sparked speculation that it could be a spin-off of the upcoming Amazon series Like a Dragon: Yakuza.

• Another connection fans have made is with Sega's Sakura Wars, which is a long-running series that combines strategy RPG elements with visual novel and dating sim gameplay in a steampunk setting. Given Like a Dragon's history of completely changing major gameplay systems, such as combat, even in mainline entries, a crossover or spin-off is certainly possible.

• Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio plans to reveal its next game at the Tokyo Game Show in September, stating that fans will be "surprised" by it. It did not confirm whether it was related to Yakuza, but a collaboration with Sakura Wars would definitely be unexpected.

More gaming news:

• A Destiny spin-off codenamed "Payback" was reportedly canceled in June, prompting the departure of Bungie veterans Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy.

• A build of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has leaked online, resulting in footage and screenshots of the game's maps, weapons, and more being shared on social media.