RGG Studio has addressed the integration of the late rapper Tupac Shakur into its upcoming game, Stranger Than Heaven, confirming that no artificial intelligence was used in the process. The studio emphasized a commitment to treating Shakur's legacy with respect, crafting his character, Amaru, through traditional research methods, including archival footage and photographs.
According to RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama, the suggestion to include Tupac Shakur came from Snoop Dogg, who also appears in the game as the globe-trotting merchant Orpheus. In Stranger Than Heaven, Orpheus discovers the protagonist, Daito, has stowed away on his ship and acts as a mentor on the journey to 1915 Japan. The game's narrative spans 50 years and features a diverse cast of international performers.
Other notable cast members include musicians Tori Kelly and Satoshi Fujihara, Shogun actor Tokuma Nishioka, and veteran voice actor Akio Otsuka. The game will also feature Yu Shirota as Makoto Daito, Dean Fujioka as Yu Shinjo, Moeka Hoshi as Tae Matsumoto, Cordell Broadus as The Veiled Stranger, Ado as Keiko Shirai, Takashi Ukaji as Genzo Iwaki and Tadashi Hataoka, Takaya Kuroda as Takeo Godai, Kouhei Tsuji as Suekichi, Yasukaze Motomiya as Tetsuya Hama, Daisuke Shiba as Kimura, and the late Bunta Sugawara voiced by Takashi Ukaji.
Yokoyama previously commented on the use of likenesses in games, noting that in Japan, it is common practice to model characters after actors, both living and deceased, and this has been part of the Japanese gaming culture for over two decades. This practice is not generally viewed with the same sensitivity as it might be elsewhere. Capcom's recent use of the likeness of actor Toshiro Mifune in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is another example of this trend.
Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The game will be available on day one through Xbox Game Pass.