{"id":652939,"date":"2026-05-07T03:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/652939\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T03:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T03:53:15","slug":"xbox-presents-a-special-look-at-stranger-than-heaven-everything-we-learned-including-snoop-doggs-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/652939\/","title":{"rendered":"Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven \u2013 Everything We Learned (Including Snoop Dogg\u2019s Role!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

SummaryThis brand-new show offered 30 minutes of new information on the world of Stranger than Heaven<\/a>, with insight from cast members and key leads at RGG Studio.We learned more about lead protagonist Makoto Daito, the cities his story will take place in, and got a first look at a new combat system built for the game.Stranger than Heaven arrives this winter for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve just wrapped up \u2018Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven\u2019 \u2013 an entire show dedicated to offering an inside look at the exciting new project from the brilliant RGG Studio.<\/p>\n

During the 30-minute broadcast, several minds behind the upcoming action-adventure game \u2013 including RGG Studio Head Masayoshi Yokoyama, Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and Game Director Mikinobu Abe \u2013 took us through the story structure, the different locations you\u2019ll explore, and some of the bombastic personalities you\u2019ll encounter as you move through protagonist Makoto\u2019s life. We also heard from legendary star Snoop Dogg and his real-life son Cordell Broadus, who both play substantial roles in this ambitious adventure, as well as multiple other actors who\u2019ll make appearances in the game, including J-Pop artist Satoshi Fujihara, and American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to go over, so we\u2019ve compiled a recap of everything shown in the broadcast \u2013 from character reveals, the five cities that the game takes place across, to the fresh combat system that RGG Studio has built especially for Stranger Than Heaven.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

The Story<\/p>\n

Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s narrative spans 50 years, following the life of main character Makoto Daito. Born in the United States to an American father and a Japanese mother, Makoto loses both of his parents very young, and faces many struggles growing up in the west. In 1915, he decides to find a way to Japan, and stows away on a boat, where he is caught by Orpheus (Snoop Dogg) \u2013 a \u201ccutthroat and charismatic smuggler\u201d according to the actor himself.<\/p>\n

Makoto also meets Yu Shinjo \u2013 a boy a little older than him, who is also of mixed heritage, and his goal to start a new life in Japan. Yu will ultimately become Makoto\u2019s good friend and rival throughout the events of Stranger Than Heaven, as the two young men\u2019s lives become intertwined.<\/p>\n

The pair are nearly thrown overboard by Orpheus, but instead, the origins of a partnership begins to blossom.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrpheus realizes in that moment that maybe what he\u2019s destined to deliver are the lives of these two boys,\u201d says Cordell Broadus, who plays a yet-to-be-revealed character that\u2019s also a part of this ensemble.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

The group arrives in Kokura, Fukuoka, a major industrial spot and a hotbed for crime. This is where the 1915 segment of Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s story begins, with Makoto and Yu starting to make a life for themselves.<\/p>\n

Orpheus brings Makoto on as his \u201csidekick, his wingman\u201d according to Broadus, taking advantage of the fact that Makoto can speak Japanese. Through countless jobs, Makoto soon finds his footing and embroils himself in the underbelly of Kokura, while Yu quickly finds himself work and becomes comfortable as a Westerner in Japan. During this time, Orpheus discovers that Makoto has a keen talent for music, which will become a key part of his story.<\/p>\n

The two friends find themselves at odds \u2013 Makoto\u2019s main goal is simply to survive and carve out a place for himself after years of persecution in the West, while Yu is much more ambitious in his aims to \u201creshape Japan\u201d. These ideals soon clash and the boys part ways in Fukuoka, but are thrust together once again as \u201cpartners in showbusiness\u201d during a \u201cchaotic and unpredictable\u201d section later in the game. So, let\u2019s talk about those many settings and time periods a little more\u2026<\/p>\n

The Cities<\/p>\n

The five decades of Stranger Than Heaven unfold across five main districts inspired by real-life Japanese cities, each with their own unique storylines and identities.<\/p>\n

As mentioned earlier, the first location that you\u2019ll experience is Kokura, Fukouka, in 1915. It\u2019s the destination for Orpheus\u2019 ship, and a major industrial area in Western Japan, where jobseekers from across the country accumulate to look for work. Faced with an absence of modern entertainment, it\u2019s also a hotbed for various vices \u2013 drinking, gambling, prostitution \u2013 you name it, this city has it all.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

From there, the game moves to Kure, Hiroshima in 1929. This city has a strong focus on shipbuilding and heavy industry, and also functions as a social hub for various countries, giving it a unique atmosphere alongside the modernisation of Japanese entertainment. This is where Makoto begins to establish himself with the various yakuza organizations controlling the city \u2013 eventually becoming part of the Iwaki Family, Hiroshima\u2019s strongest organization. Here, he becomes known as the Red Oni, a name to be respected and feared among the families.<\/p>\n

Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s third section takes us to Minami, Osaka in 1943, where Makoto and Yu reunite and work together. Minami is a vibrant entertainment hub full of light and life, but behind the scenes there is foreign influence. The Yakuza and Italian Mafia compete for dominance in the shadows, but on the surface, new forms of entertainment thrive. This is where Makoto and Yu\u2019s showbusiness activities take place, which we\u2019ll dig into shortly.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

The next location is Atami, Shizuoka, one of Japan\u2019s most notable tourist destinations. This area is much less urban, steeped in cherry blossoms and breathtaking vistas, showcasing the natural beauty of the less populated country. Set in 1951, American influence has started to permeate through Japan by this point, creating new trends in language, music, and fashion.<\/p>\n

Finally, the story concludes in Tokyo, 1965. This segment takes place in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Yokoyama-san shares that a \u201ctremendous secret will be revealed\u201d at this part of the game, and more will be revealed soon.<\/p>\n

We also get a glimpse at some gameplay activities that Makoto can partake in around these different locations, minigames appear to include arm-wrestling contests, dice-rolling, and card-based games in Fukuoka, and target shooting activities in Osaka.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

The Greatest Showman<\/p>\n

A major part of Stranger Than Heaven revolves around Makoto and Yu\u2019s tenure as partners in showbusiness \u2013 not least because Makoto has a great talent for music, and a \u201ckeen ability to find the music in everyday life, [memorizing] the sounds as ideas for future compositions\u201d, according to Game Director Mikonobu Abe.<\/p>\n

This translates into an interesting gameplay mechanic \u2013 while exploring, Makoto can walk up to sounds happening in the world around him and select them to save as \u2018recordings\u2019, whether it\u2019s the noise of a sweeping broom, a passing train, or the thunk of an enemy hitting the curb during a combat sequence. These sounds can vary based on era, location, or time of day and are compiled in a library for later use.<\/p>\n

At certain points in the game, Makoto will encounter composers, and you\u2019ll be able to use the collected sounds to create original compositions that have different instruments and moods, an interesting mechanic that\u2019ll enable players to create some truly unique pieces of music.<\/p>\n

Collecting sounds and composing ties into Makoto\u2019s wider calling as a showman, producing and managing gigs and performances for other artists. This is where Stranger Than Heaven incorporates management elements; Makoto will organize the structure of various shows, decide which musicians will take part in it, and choose a setlist. During the broadcast, we see an example of this where the player can arrange a five-piece band on a stage by choosing from a roster of performers.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

Another key element of this management section is scouting \u2013 seeking out individuals with a gift for music to take part in your shows, and this can be done by gathering intel around town and observing NPC dialogues out in the world. As the story unfolds, Makoto will develop relationships with several performers, that all possess \u201cunique and remarkable abilities\u201d according to Abe-san.<\/p>\n

Among them are Singers, which appear to be a special class of characters that Makoto will encounter. Some of Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s Singers are played by real-world artists you may even be familiar with already. A notable character we\u2019re introduced to during the show is Takashi, played by J-Pop artist Satoshi Fujihara. Makoto meets Takashi through yakuza connections, and he eventually becomes Makoto\u2019s assistant and proteg\u00e9.<\/p>\n

During the game\u2019s Shizuoka segment, Makoto will meet Suzy, an ambitious Singer played by American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. \u201cThis collision of East and West results in a unique era that exudes both optimism and melancholy,\u201d Kelly says. \u201cStranger Than Heaven brings players inside Japan\u2019s showbusiness world at a pivotal moment in the country\u2019s history, and unsurprisingly, showbiz\u2019s customs and culture turn out to be just as cutthroat as the underworld\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tori Kelly and Satoshi Fujihara also wrote Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s theme song, which you\u2019ll hear for the first time during the broadcast.<\/p>\n

The Combat<\/p>\n

Alongside a talent for singing and showmanship, Makoto also possesses incredible fighting ability. Stranger Than Heaven features an entirely new combat system, built specially for the game, and it\u2019s \u201cone of the biggest features of this title\u201d according to Stranger Than Heaven producer Hiroyuki Sakomoto. What makes this system particularly unique and compelling is that the player controls the left and right sides of Makoto independently.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

In practice, you\u2019ll use RB + RT to control Makoto\u2019s right arm and leg, and LB + LT to manoeuvre his left arm and leg. In the show, we see Makoto\u2019s right arm being held by an enemy, but he\u2019s still able to attack with his left. Alongside combo systems, players can \u201ccharge up\u201d their attacks by holding a button down and releasing it at the right moment for a more powerful hit. Players can block with one arm, and then counterattack with a swift attack from the other, or tackle an enemy using LT and RT together. Observing an enemy\u2019s actions to see what moves they\u2019ll pull makes for a compelling, dynamic combat experience, which is as much about reading the room as it is hitting the right inputs.<\/p>\n

Makoto\u2019s fists and feet are not the only tools on hand either \u2013 Stranger Than Heaven has a rich weapons roster ranging from basic knives, hammers, mallets, to masterworks of old like katanas, and \u201cbrand-new inventions of the era.\u201d These weapons can also be upgraded, and have special attacks and passive abilities, giving Makoto even more options in how to fight.<\/p>\n

We also see some intense cinematic design in select combat sections \u2013 including a close-quarters brawl inside a fast-moving car. Sakamoto also tells us that Makoto can perform powerful finishing moves, and context-sensitive attacks depending on the situation he\u2019s in. All of these elements come together to make a fresh, robust combat system perfect for Stranger Than Heaven\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

\"Stranger<\/p>\n

While we\u2019ve seen so much during Xbox Presents: A Special Look At Stranger Than Heaven, there\u2019s still much more to be uncovered, and we can look forward to learning more. Fortunately, there\u2019s not too long to wait until launch \u2013 Stranger than Heaven<\/a> arrives this winter for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass.<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"STRANGER
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Xbox<\/p>\n

\tSTRANGER THAN HEAVEN<\/p>\n

SEGA<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606 \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\tAn epic saga of men battling through five eras and five cities.<\/p>\n

Tune-in to Xbox Presents: A Special Look at STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, a standalone broadcast featuring a full reveal of the brand-new title from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio on May 6th at 4:00 pm PDT | May 7 at 1:00 am CEST. <\/p>\n

Look forward to exciting details and an all-star cast from around the world.\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SummaryThis brand-new show offered 30 minutes of new information on the world of Stranger than Heaven, with insight…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":652940,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,48,242233,81161,242234,61,148901,91965],"class_list":["post-652939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-rgg-studio","tag-sega","tag-stranger-than-heaven","tag-technology","tag-xbox-on-pc","tag-xbox-series-xs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=652939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652939\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/652940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}