Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's lead designer reveals the clever asset reuse behind Dondoko Island's expansive furniture collection. Discover how this innovative approach significantly expanded the minigame's scope.
Dondoko Island: A Minigame of Unexpected Scale
Leveraging Past Assets for Enhanced Gameplay
In a July 30th interview with Automaton, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's lead designer, Michiko Hatoyama, detailed the surprising growth of Dondoko Island. Initially conceived as a smaller minigame, the project evolved organically. Hatoyama stated, "Dondoko Island started small, but it grew much larger than anticipated." This expansion was fueled by a significant increase in available furniture recipes.
RGG Studio's strategic reuse of existing assets from past Yakuza titles proved instrumental. Hatoyama highlighted the ability to create individual furniture pieces "in minutes," a stark contrast to the days or even months typically required for new asset creation. This vast library of pre-existing assets allowed for the rapid integration of a large and diverse furniture selection into Dondoko Island.
The expansion of both the island itself and its furniture inventory aimed to provide players with fresh and engaging gameplay. The sheer scale of the island and the extensive furniture options empower players to transform the initial wasteland into a thriving, luxurious resort.
Released on January 25, 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth—the ninth mainline entry in the Yakuza series—received widespread acclaim. The game's success, coupled with the extensive asset library accumulated across the series, positions RGG Studio well for future projects. Dondoko Island stands as a testament to efficient asset management, transforming a seemingly simple minigame into a remarkably expansive and rewarding experience for players.
