Xbox Wire revealed the key cast for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, an upcoming RGG Studio game published by SEGA, with Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Yu Shirota, Dean Fujioka, Tori Kelly, and Ado among the actors attached.
The game follows Makoto Daito, portrayed by Yu Shirota, across a 50-year saga from 1915 to 1965. Daito is half-American and half-Japanese. In 1915 he sneaks aboard a ship in San Francisco to reach Japan, where he meets a merchant named Orpheus, the ship’s captain, and another stowaway, Yu Shinjo, portrayed by Dean Fujioka. Snoop Dogg portrays Orpheus.
A 50-year journey through five cities
The story spans five cities and five eras: 1915 Kokura, Fukuoka; 1929 Kure, Hiroshima; 1943 Minami, Osaka; 1951 Atami, Shizuoka; and 1965 Shinjuku, Tokyo. Daito searches for a place to call home.
Cast includes music and film names
Additional cast members include Akio Otsuka as Heigo Yashima, Moeka Hoshi as Tae Matsumoto, Tori Kelly as Suzy Day, Tokuma Nishioka as Kiyoshi Otsuru, Satoshi Fujihara as Takashi, Cordell Broadus as The Veiled Stranger, and Ado as Keiko Shirai. The late Bunta Sugawara appears as Genzo Iwaki, with RGG Studio crafting his CG character design from archival footage and photographs with formal consent from his family and materials provided by Toei Company; Takashi Ukaji performs the voice. Takashi Ukaji also portrays Tadashi Hataoka. Takaya Kuroda plays Takeo Godai, Kouhei Tsuji plays Suekichi, Yasukaze Motomiya plays Tetsuya Hama, and Daisuke Shiba plays Kimura. Tupac appears as Amaru, made possible with permission and ongoing supervision of his estate, Amaru Entertainment. RGG Studio crafted that character without the use of AI, based on archival footage and photographs.
Music drives Makoto Daito’s rise
Music shapes Daito’s path after his mentor discovers his hidden talent. He becomes a showman who scouts performers, creates music from sounds he collects, and stages shows across Japan.
Xbox Game Pass and Play Anywhere launch
STRANGER THAN HEAVEN launches January 15, 2027, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and will be available with Xbox Game Pass. SEGA’s Xbox Game Pass slate this year also includes Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage, while sister studio Atlus is at work on Persona 4 Revival.
