A recent interview with Automaton revealed a surprising approach to game development within the Like a Dragon studio. The team embraces internal conflict as a key ingredient in crafting high-quality games.

Like a Dragon Studio: Conflict Fuels Creativity

Embracing the "Fight" for a Better Game

Series director Ryosuke Horii shared that disagreements among team members are not just common, but actively encouraged. He explained that these "in-fights," when properly managed, are crucial for pushing the boundaries of game design. Horii emphasized the role of the planner in mediating these conflicts, ensuring that arguments lead to constructive solutions rather than stagnation. "A lukewarm final product is the result of a lack of debate," he stated. The focus is on productive conflict, resulting in a superior final product.

Horii further clarified that the studio prioritizes the quality of ideas over their origin. "We judge ideas on merit, not on who proposed them," he said. This open approach, however, is coupled with a firm commitment to rejecting substandard concepts. The team actively engages in rigorous debate and "battles of ideas" to ensure only the best make it into the final game. This commitment to quality, even if it means confronting conflicting viewpoints, is a testament to the studio's dedication to excellence.