STRANGER THAN HEAVEN Director Abe Kanobu on Crafting a 50-Year Life at gamescom 2026
Sega has unveiled a playable demo of its upcoming action-adventure title STRANGER THAN HEAVEN at gamescom 2026, marking the first public hands-on session for the game developed by RGG Studio. The interview with director Kenobu Abe reveals that the project is a complete original work rather than a sequel to the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, though it retains the studio's signature narrative depth and character-driven storytelling.
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on January 15, 2027. The game follows Makoto Oshita, an immigrant from Japan who arrives in the country as a foreigner. His life spans five decades, covering five distinct eras: 1915 (Kokura), 1929 (Hiroshima/Yura), 1943 (Osaka/Minaami), 1951 (Shizuoka/Atami), and 1965 (Tokyo/Shinjuku). The narrative explores the weight of history and violence through a lens that blends fact with fiction, aiming to capture the essence of Japan as seen through Oshita's eyes.
Director Kenobu Abe explained that while the game is built from scratch, it does not abandon the studio's core identity. The team focused on what the story specifically needed rather than adhering strictly to past formulas. A key design choice involves alternating between cinematic sequences and player-controlled segments. This structure allows players to experience major historical events as a spectator but also live out the daily struggles of Oshita, such as choosing meals in restaurants or navigating social interactions, fostering a deep sense of shared life and growth.
The combat system is designed to feel visceral and intuitive. Players control both hands independently, allowing for complex maneuvers like grabbing multiple enemies simultaneously. While the initial learning curve might be steep, the game's difficulty scales alongside Oshita's aging process. As the protagonist matures, his fighting style evolves from raw, desperate struggle to refined technique, mirroring the player's own mastery of the controls.
Abe emphasized that the goal is not to create a perfect simulation but an entertaining experience where players can find their own unique playstyle. Even clumsy or unconventional fighting methods are embraced as valid expressions of Oshita's character. The team is confident that once players adapt to the dual-hand mechanics, they will feel fully immersed in the world, able to project themselves onto the protagonist while witnessing a 50-year journey through Japan's changing landscape.
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