Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’s Dondoko Island Furniture Came From Reused Game Assets

Discover how Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's lead designer, Michiko Hatoyama, transformed Dondoko Island into a sprawling minigame by smartly editing and reusing past assets. Dive into the details of this creative process and its impact on the game.

Dondoko Island: A Vast Minigame Experience

On July 30, Michiko Hatoyama, the lead designer of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, shared insights into the development of Dondoko Island. Initially planned to be smaller, the minigame evolved significantly during its creation. Hatoyama revealed, "At first, Dondoko Island was a little smaller, but it kind of grew larger before we knew it." RGG Studio enhanced the minigame by incorporating a vast array of furniture recipes.

The Strategy Behind Asset Reuse

RGG Studio's approach to expanding Dondoko Island involved editing and reusing assets from previous Yakuza games. Hatoyama explained that this method allowed them to create individual pieces of furniture "in a matter of minutes," a stark contrast to the usual timeline of days or even months for new asset creation. The extensive library of assets from the Yakuza series facilitated the rapid development and integration of numerous furniture options into Dondoko Island.

The expansion of Dondoko Island and the addition of more furniture recipes were driven by the goal of offering players fresh and engaging ways to enjoy the game. The larger island and extensive furniture options empower players to transform a once-neglected garbage dump into a luxurious five-star island resort.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, released on January 25, 2024, has been warmly welcomed by both fans and newcomers. As the ninth mainline entry in the Yakuza series, it provides a rich repository of assets for future projects. Dondoko Island stands out as a testament to RGG Studio's innovative use of existing resources, offering players countless hours of immersive gameplay as they craft their ideal island resort.