The new fighting game "Stranger Than Heaven" from the renowned "Ryu Ga Gotoku" (RGG) studio, known for the "Yakuza" and "Like a Dragon" series, is one of the projects gamers have been eagerly awaiting for a long time. However, the announcement of the game’s cast at "Summer Game Fest 2026" caused considerable surprise. Alongside Snoop Dogg and other famous figures, it was revealed that legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, who was murdered 30 years ago, would also appear in the cast. RGG studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama spoke about the decision’s background and how they are preserving the rapper’s memory.
According to Yokoyama, the foundation for this unusual idea was laid with Snoop Dogg. The famous artist plays a highly important character named Orpheus in the game. While working on the script, the team decided to transfer Snoop’s real-life relationships and friendships into the game.
The game features many characters from different countries who have been marginalized by society. During discussions with Snoop Dogg, the idea emerged of portraying his real-life friendships in the game through a kind of mirror effect. Yokoyama notes that when Snoop was asked who would be suitable for the role, he immediately named Tupac. Some developers at the studio even said they were moved when they heard the idea of bringing the two friends together again in the game.
Bringing Tupac’s character into the game was not as easy as it might seem. A serious legal battle is currently taking place between the rapper’s family and music manager Tom Tom Whalley, who holds his digital rights. To resolve this issue, RGG studio began direct negotiations with both the official rights holders and Tupac’s surviving family members.
Yokoyama says the most important point for the team was not to tarnish the rapper’s memory. For this reason, they consulted with the family regarding the plot of the script and obtained full approval.
The most notable aspect of the studio’s approach is that they do not want to copy Tupac’s final appearance from 1996. The team is seeking an answer to a different question: "If Tupac were alive today, how would he behave and express himself 30 years later?"
Created with the family’s support, this digital character visualizes not the rapper’s past, but the potential future he might have lived. Naturally, the digital recreation of an artist 30 years after his death will continue to spark discussion in the gaming world for a long time.
"Stranger Than Heaven" will be released on January 15 next year.
