Stranger Than Heaven
Release date, trailer and everything we know.
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Release date
15 January 2027
The story so far
What we know about Stranger Than Heaven
Stranger Than Heaven is an action-adventure game from RGG Studio, the team behind the Yakuza and Like a Dragon series, published by SEGA. It was first shown as Project Century at The Game Awards 2024 and is set to launch on 15 January 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It is described as a distant prequel to the Like a Dragon universe and spans about fifty years of Japanese history.
The story follows Makoto Daito, a Japanese-American outcast who finds a new life in Japan and slowly rises through the criminal underworld, eventually becoming a figure in the entertainment business. The game moves through several Japanese cities, among them Kokura, Kure, Osaka, Atami and Tokyo, between roughly 1915 and 1965. According to the studio, the team favoured believable invented places over strictly accurate recreations of history.
RGG Studio has shown third-person brawling with separate controls for the left and right side, weapon upgrades and music as a core system, where players collect sounds and help compose and stage performances. The cast includes Yu Shirota as Daito, Snoop Dogg and his son Cordell Broadus, plus Tupac Shakur as the character Amaru, created with the approval of his estate. Pre-orders are open in several editions, and the game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.
What to expect from Stranger Than Heaven
Based on what the developer and publisher have shown so far.
- 01
A 50-year crime story
The plot follows Makoto Daito across five decades and several Japanese cities. According to the developer, the team first planned a trilogy but folded the story into a single game.
- 02
Left and right combat
Combat is built around independent controls for the left and right side of the body, used for attacks and blocks. Weapons can be upgraded, so far, and fights are shown as heavy street brawls.
- 03
Music as a mechanic
Players collect sounds and help create original compositions, and management-style activities involve organising musical performances. Music is a central part of the game rather than only the soundtrack.
- 04
Era-flavoured side activities
As in earlier RGG games, period minigames have been shown, including arm wrestling, shooting and dice betting, set in believable invented versions of real Japanese cities.
See it for yourself
Confirmed. Unconfirmed. Clear.
A quick way to separate official information from speculation.
Confirmed
- Release date is 15 January 2027.SEGA press release
- Platforms are PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, plus Xbox Game Pass.Gematsu
- Tupac Shakur joins the cast as Amaru, created with his estate's approval and without AI, with Snoop Dogg and Cordell Broadus also in the cast.SEGA press release
- Digital standard and deluxe editions and a physical collector's edition with vinyl and SteelBook are available to pre-order; Japan prices are 8,990 and 11,990 yen.SEGA press release (Japan)
- The game was first revealed as Project Century at The Game Awards 2024 and got its final title in June 2025.Video Games Chronicle
Not confirmed
Western pricing
Prices for the US and Europe were not found in the sources we checked, only Japanese yen prices.
Demo
No playable demo has been announced so far.
Other platforms
Only PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC are announced. Nothing has been said about Switch 2 or other systems.
Length
The studio has not given a playtime. The story covers 50 years, but how long it takes to finish is unknown.
Rumours are labelled and linked to their source.
Timeline
The road to release, from announcement to launch.
12 December 2024
Revealed as Project Century at The Game Awards 2024. Wikipedia
6 June 2025
Final title Stranger Than Heaven announced at Summer Game Fest 2025, with a winter release window and Game Pass at launch. Video Games Chronicle
6 May 2026
Detailed gameplay presentation held together with Xbox. Wikipedia
5 June 2026
Release date trailer at Summer Game Fest 2026 reveals 15 January 2027 and Tupac in the cast. Gematsu
15 January 2027
Planned release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. SEGA
Waiting for Stranger Than Heaven? Play these
Our best guesses until it is out, picked for the same kind of experience.
Yakuza 0
Same studio's period crime drama, mixing heavy street brawls with melodrama and silly side activities.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Latest big RGG release, a good guide to the studio's modern combat, humour and sprawling side content.
Judgment
RGG's detective spin-off: same Japanese city streets and brawling, but a more serious tone.
Ghost of Tsushima
Historical Japan told through a single outcast's rise, with strong period atmosphere and melee combat.
Sleeping Dogs
Open-city crime action with martial-arts brawling, a criminal-underworld story and a strong sense of place.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A sweeping decades-long crime saga about loyalty, a changing era and the cost of a gang life.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people search for most.
When is Stranger Than Heaven released?
Stranger Than Heaven is set to release on 15 January 2027, as announced by SEGA and RGG Studio at Summer Game Fest 2026.
Which platforms is it coming to?
PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store. It will also be on Xbox Game Pass. No other platforms are announced yet.
Is there a trailer?
Yes. SEGA published a reveal trailer with the Tupac and Snoop Dogg cast announcement, and earlier trailers exist from RGG Studio and SEGA channels.
Can I pre-order it, and is there a demo?
Pre-orders are open for digital standard and deluxe editions and a physical collector's edition. A demo has not been announced so far.
Is it part of Like a Dragon?
It is described as a distant prequel to the Like a Dragon universe, made by the same studio, but it follows a new protagonist and era, so no earlier games are required.
What is it about?
It follows Makoto Daito, a Japanese-American outcast who rises through the criminal underworld across about 50 years of Japanese history, roughly 1915 to 1965.