Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, indeed (Picture: Sega)

A usually free feature in the Yakuza and Like A Dragon series will only be in deluxe editions of new game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

New Game+, which typically allows players to run through a game for a second time with additional weapons and features, has become a staple of most action role-playing titles.

For the Yakuza and Like A Dragon series, it has been essential for anyone who wants to access higher difficulties. In 2020’s Yakuza: Like A Dragon, for example, you could only access Hard and Legend difficulties through New Game+, which also carried over your level, money, gear items, and side quest completion.

This typically free feature, for the first time in the series, is being locked behind a paywall for upcoming entry Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth – with the feature not available in the standard edition.

As noted on the official website, New Game+ is contained in the Master Vacation DLC bundle, which is only included in the Deluxe (£74.99) and Ultimate (£94.99) editions.

The Master Vacation bundle isn’t currently listed separately but that may change once the game is released; it also includes a bonus dungeon, additional outfits, resort guests, and a special sujimon (for a Pokémon-inspired mode).

You might need infinite wealth (Picture: Sega)

Essentially, you have to pay an extra £15 on top of the base game if you want to access New Game+, which feels like a gross way to sell a feature that’s typically a bonus unlockable.

GameCentral has reached out to Sega to confirm if this is the case.

A month ago, a Redditor asked Sega Support the same question about the Master Vacation bundle, when it was confirmed New Game+ would only be accessible through this DLC pack. As such, there’s plenty of jokes pointing to the irony in Infinite Wealth’s title.

Games locking features behind paywalls and special editions isn’t exactly new, but it’s a concerning sign when it’s a mode that is, for some, core to the experience. It’ll be especially worrying if other games start to do the same thing.

We’ll have to see how egregious it gets when Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on January 26, 2024.

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A usually free feature in the Yakuza and Like A Dragon series will only be in deluxe editions of new game Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.