IRVINE, Calif. — SEGA and Xbox officially unveiled new details for Stranger Than Heaven during the “Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven” broadcast on May 6. The upcoming action-adventure title from RGG Studio is set to launch this winter on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam and PlayStation 5.
The game follows protagonist Makoto Daito across a sprawling 50-year story spanning five cities and multiple eras of Japanese history. Born to an American father and Japanese mother in 1915 San Francisco, Makoto faces discrimination before traveling to Japan after the death of his parents. What begins as a desperate journey for survival soon turns into a life-changing adventure across decades of conflict, entertainment and crime.
RGG Studio revealed that the game will feature five major settings inspired by real historical locations:
- 1915 Kokura, Fukuoka
- 1929 Kure, Hiroshima
- 1943 Minami, Osaka
- 1951 Atami, Shizuoka
- 1965 Shinjuku, Tokyo
Each city reflects the political and social atmosphere of its era, ranging from industrial foundries and naval ports to postwar tourism hubs and bustling entertainment districts.
The presentation also highlighted one of the game’s biggest gameplay mechanics: Makoto’s rise as a performer and showman. Players will scout singers and performers, collect sounds from the environment to create original music and build stage productions from the ground up. Everyday noises such as train rumbles, animal cries and even combat sounds can be transformed into songs used in performances throughout the story.
Combat in the game focuses on fast, reactive street fighting with independent control of Makoto’s left and right sides during combat. Players can chain attacks, counter enemy strikes and use a variety of weapons including knives, hammers and katanas.
The game’s cast includes several international performers and musicians, including Snoop Dogg, Ado and Tori Kelly. The broadcast also debuted the game’s original theme song, “Stranger Than Heaven,” featuring collaborations between Snoop Dogg, Satoshi Fujihara, Ado and Tori Kelly.
RGG Studio additionally confirmed the appearance of legendary late actor Bunta Sugawara through a CG recreation developed with permission from his family and archival materials provided by Toei Company