Dave the Diver: Ichiban’s Holiday DLC Announced, Releasing April

We’ve seen Mintrocket’s Dave the Diver get crossover content with the likes of Godzilla, Dredge, and Balatro. Now, the studio is teaming up with RGG Studio to deliver new DLC featuring Like A Dragon‘s Ichiban Kasuga and more. This is a collaboration I never expected would happen.

Dave the Diver‘s Ichiban’s Holiday DLC launches this April for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Check out the trailer below, and an overview of the update on PS Blog, penned by Director Jaeho Hwang.

Dave the Diver: Ichiban’s Holiday Overview

As some of you may already know, I’ve often cited the Like a Dragon series as one of my greatest gaming inspirations. From the original 2005 release to the latest RPG iterations, I’ve been captivated by the rich character development and genre-defying gameplay. It’s been a dream of mine to invite these iconic characters into Dave’s world, and now, that dream is becoming a reality. After a fateful meeting with Mr. Yokoyama, head of Sega’s Like a Dragon Studio and the team at Tokyo Game Show, we’re finally ready to unveil what we’ve been working on. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the details of our upcoming DLC: Ichiban’s Holiday!

Key Features

Kasuga Ichiban and the bartender

Kasuga Ichiban, our beloved protagonist since Yakuza: Like a Dragon, decides to take a well-deserved break at the Blue Hole. Joined by his ever-reliable buddy, the bartender of the “Survive Bar”, this vacation is about to turn into anything but relaxing.

Brace yourselves for an epic showdown as Bancho’s ego takes a serious hit when the bartender delivers a harsh dose of honesty about his skills.

But wait, there’s more! Our dynamic duo stumbles upon a sinister plot that’ll have you hooked. A dolphin-poaching syndicate is making waves, and it’s up to Ichiban and Dave to dive into action.

Kasuga Ichiban x Cobra

Cobra is an ex-arms dealer helping Dave – who’s all about the money but secretly loyal to the core. When he teams up with Ichiban, you know things are about to get explosive! Prepare for a beat ’em up style infiltration of the nefarious Sea Blue gang’s hideout. 

More from Kamurocho!

A crossover between Dave the Diver and Like a Dragon wouldn’t be complete without some iconic mini-games from both worlds! Cheer along with Ichiban’s unforgettable karaoke performances and recruit familiar faces from the Like a Dragon series to join your restaurant staff. Can you recognize where they all come from?

It is worth noting that, unlike past updates, the Ichiban’s Holiday DLC will be paid content. That’s no issue for me, since this is a collaboration I’d be willing to pay for as a fan of both IPs. Plus, it’s wonderful and refreshing to see familiar faces from LaD depicted with Dave the Diver‘s gorgeous pixel art.

Also, Dave the Diver was one of my favorite games played in 2023. Niki Fakhoori’s Switch review sums up everything the game offers: sushi restaurant management, underwater resource gathering with roguelike elements, and a lighthearted narrative.

Keep checking back here at RPGFan for further announcements from Sony’s recent State of Play!

Source: PS Blog