SEGA is thrilled to pull back the curtain on some of the pivotal figures in Makoto Daito’s 50-year saga in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, launching January 15, 2027.
From 1915 to 1965, Makoto Daito fights to survive across five cities in search of a place to call home. Born to an American father and a Japanese mother, he belongs fully to neither country. As he carves out a life in a turbulent age, he tumbles through the orbits of a cast of characters carrying their own ambitions, convictions, and pasts.
Follow Daito, his close friend Shinjo, and the many lives drawn into their gravity as fates converge.
The Story
On a late night in 1915, a ship departs from the port of San Francisco in America.
Rumors surround the vessel and even the police refuse to go near it. Aboard this vessel hides a lone young man. His name is Makoto Daito, a man born to an American father and a Japanese mother. Having suffered severe discrimination, Daito longs to travel to his mother’s homeland, Japan, and risks his life sneaking aboard the ship to get there.
Unbeknownst to him, his encounter with Orpheus, the captain of this vessel, and another stowaway, Yu Shinjo, will dramatically alter the course of his fate. What awaits Daito in the Japan he has so long admired?
This is the beginning of one man’s journey across five cities and five eras.
The Cast
Makoto Daito (Portrayed by Yu Shirota)
「So, this is Japan…」
A half-Japanese half-American man. After facing persecution in America, he sets out for Japan. On the voyage, he meets a merchant named Orpheus and Yu Shinjo, a young man who shares similar circumstances. These encounters will change his life forever.
Yu Shinjo (Portrayed by Dean Fujioka)
「This is my one chance to start over.」
A half-Japanese half-British man. Like Daito, he faces persecution in his homeland and seeks a new life in Japan. He meets Daito aboard the ship to Japan, and the two decide to stick together to survive. Cool-headed and sharp-witted, he is always one step ahead of Daito.
Orpheus (Portrayed by Snoop Dogg)
「’Taking what’s meant to be where it’s meant to be.’ That’s our motto.」
A globe-trotting merchant with an ‘open mind’ toward the legality of his wares. After discovering Daito stowed away aboard his ship, he teaches him the harsh realities of life in Japan and comes to recognize his talent for music.
Heigo Yashima (Portrayed by Akio Otsuka)
「In this business, respect is everything.」
A merchant and boss in Kokura. Built up his fortune in trade.
The People Who Cross Paths with Daito
Tae Matsumoto (Portrayed by Moeka Hoshi）
「You know, it’s always nice to be requested like this.」
A café waitress in Kokura. Also a yakuza’s mistress.
Suzy Day (Portrayed by Tori Kelly）
「Well, all right. That sounds like a challenge.」
A talented singer who dreams of making it big. After meeting Daito, she begins her rise through the world of show business.
Kiyoshi Otsuru (Portrayed by Tokuma Nishioka）
「I feel like the three of us’ll get along just fine.」
A stylish old man with an unmistakable air of authority.
Takashi (Portrayed by Satoshi Fujihara）
「Aniki! How’s it goin’!?」
Daito’s sworn brother, a man who lives for the moment. Also a gifted pianist. Daito’s discovery of his gift rekindles his passion for music.
The Veiled Stranger (Portrayed by Cordell Broadus）
「I been lookin’ forever.And, shit, here you are!」
A man stationed in postwar Japan.
Keiko Shirai (Portrayed by Ado）
「When it comes down to it, those are kinda all I’ve got.」
The diva of wartime Osaka.
Genzo Iwaki (Portrayed by Bunta Sugawara/Voiced by Takashi Ukaji）
「Idiot…Not even sake’s enough to stomach him.」
The big boss of Kure, with unmatched influence.
In STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, the late and legendary actor Bunta Sugawara appears. SEGA received formal consent from his family, and, with materials provided by Toei Company, Ltd. – which produced many of Mr. Sugawara’s films, including the Battles Without Honor and Humanity – RGG Studio crafted his CG character design based on archival footage and photographs from the time.
The character’s voice is performed by actor Takashi Ukaji, who shared a close connection with Mr. Sugawara.
Tadashi Hataoka (Portrayed by Takashi Ukaji）
「You don’t know who I am? Some Yashima man you are.」
A swaggering, violent yakuza from Kokura.
Takeo Godai (Portrayed by Takaya Kuroda）
「That’s wishful thinkin’ if I’ve ever heard it.」
A skilled craftsman, and a man of few words.
Suekichi (Portrayed by Kouhei Tsuji）
「What, the whorehouse again? You’re puttin’ those girls to work.」
Daito’s sworn brother. Carefree, but dependable when it counts.
Tetsuya Hama (Portrayed by Yasukaze Motomiya）
「Stop your whinin’, dumbass!」
A young yakuza from Kure. Iwaki’s right-hand man.
Amaru (Portrayed by Tupac）
「No one can really know what goes on in another man’s heart.」
A man in hiding in Japan.
Tupac’s portrayal of the character Amaru in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN is made possible with the permission and ongoing supervision of his estate, Amaru Entertainment. RGG Studio is treating this integration with the utmost respect for his legacy, crafting every aspect in close collaboration and without the use of AI, including his character design based on archival footage and photographs. More details regarding his role will be shared at a later date.
Kimura (Portrayed by Daisuke Shiba）
「Tell you what. Let’s at least get something to eat!」
An easygoing nightclub worker in Kamurocho.
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN launches January 15, 2027, on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, and XBOX Cloud. It will be an XBOX Play Anywhere title and available with XBOX Game Pass.
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN
SEGA
A fifty-year saga of those with nowhere to go and their desperate struggle to find a home. San Francisco, 1915. Our story begins as a young boy sneaks aboard a mysterious ship in the dead of night.
His name? Makoto Daito. Born to an American father and a Japanese mother, Makoto’s world is one of harsh persecution, a fate cruely cast upon him simply because of his Asian heritage.
After losing both of his parents and finding himself completely alone, Makoto, in an act of desperation, decides to risk it all and travel to his mother’s birthplace. If the United States won’t accept him for who he is, maybe Japan will…
With nothing but the shirt on his back, Makoto soon learns, however, that his voyage across the Pacific is anything but a “free ride,” and that this one choice will forever change the course of his life. What awaits our young stowaway in Japan? And where will the years take him next?
■5 ERAS, 5 CITIES
The story unfolds across a version of Japan that may have existed in another life altogether, immersing you in 5 sprawling cities, each modeled after real locations of their respective eras.
1915, Kokura, Fukuoka: home of what was said to be one of the world’s largest foundries, a smoke-scorched town bursting with the passion of hard-driven, equally fiery workers.
1929, Kure, Hiroshima: a port town dominated by Japan’s largest naval arsenal and heavily influenced by the presence of yakuza organizations.
1943, Minami, Osaka: the biggest entertainment district in western Japan, set against the ever-rising tension of a world at war.
1951, Atami, Shizuoka: a bustling seaside getaway synonymous with tourism in postwar Japan.
1965, Shinjuku, Tokyo: Japan’s most iconic pleasure district—a city of swirling and unpredictable chaos.
■THE MOST CREATIVE, INTUITIVE, AND EXTREME VIOLENCE
In these turbulent times, fighting to survive means one thing: doing whatever it takes. Experience this struggle through the raw brutality of an ever-changing combat system that feels alive.
You won’t just control Makoto Daito, you’ll become him—moving his left and right sides independently and instinctively as you attack, defend, and force your way to victory.
Follow a jab with a crushing blow, send enemies flying with a charged attack, tackle them while they stagger or pin them to the ground and unleash a relentless flurry of punches. Nothing is off the table in Makoto’s world.
You can also block enemy strikes with one hand and instantly counter with the other. Reading their moves and creating your own openings is key to coming out on top.
Additionally, you’ll master and enhance a wide array of weapons—knives, hammers, katanas, and more—as you fight your way through era after violent era.
■LIFE OF A SHOWMAN
In the earliest chapters of our story, Makoto’s guide and mentor discovers his hidden talent for music, and, before long, Makoto finds himself not only singing a tune or two but stepping into the role of a showman, producing a wide variety of incredible acts throughout all of Japan.
In order to get these shows off the ground, Makoto must gather rumors from the streets and use them to scout skilled singers and performers. He can then head out into town to create new music—collecting any and every sound he can find: the swish of a broom, snoring of a sleepy neighbor, the rumble of passing trains, distant animal cries, even the grunts and growls of the enemies he fights.
By combining these sounds, Makoto can craft original tracks, brand new music for the whole nation to hear. From there, he’ll choose the setlist, arrange the band, assign a cast, and design the production—from lighting colors to staging—all in an effort to bring each show to life. As you tour the country staging performances and captivating audiences, you’ll experience Makoto’s rags-to-riches rise to success as a master showman.
Will the relentless determination of two men racing through fifty years of chaos change the future as we know it?
From RGG Studio—the master storytellers behind some of gaming’s most intense battles and heartfelt drama—comes their latest unforgettable adventure.
The post Meet Key Players Shaping Makoto Daito’s Journey in STRANGER THAN HEAVEN appeared first on XBOX Wire.
