Nearly 30 years after his death, Tupac Shakur is set to appear as a character in a major new video game.
At Summer Game Fest 2026, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio confirmed that the late rap icon will feature in the upcoming action RPG Stranger Than Heaven, with his likeness licensed and approved by his estate.
The announcement was made by Snoop Dogg, who appeared on stage to discuss the collaboration and explain why bringing Tupac into the project felt like a natural fit.
Snoop Dogg reveals why Tupac was included
According to reports from the event, Snoop Dogg told the audience that he worked closely with Tupac’s estate throughout the process.
“The Tupac estate and my son and myself, we work very closely together.
“So it just made sense to put him in this game, because his likeness and his spirit still lives on, I just felt like it was so connected to what we’re doing.”
Rather than appearing as himself, Tupac will portray a character named Amaru, a reference to his middle name and the revolutionary figure Túpac Amaru II, from whom his name was originally derived.
Sega says Tupac’s likeness was created without AI
Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio emphasised that the recreation of Tupac was carried out in close partnership with his estate and without the use of artificial intelligence.
In a statement, the companies said:
“Tupac’s portrayal of the character Amaru in Stranger Than Heaven is made possible with the permission and ongoing supervision of his estate, Amaru Entertainment.”
They added:
“RGG Studio is treating this integration with the utmost respect for his legacy, crafting every aspect in close collaboration and without the use of AI, including his character design based on archival footage and photographs.”
The clarification comes at a time when the use of AI-generated voices and likenesses remains a contentious issue across both the music and gaming industries.
Stranger Than Heaven spans five decades of Japanese history
Developed by the team behind the acclaimed Like a Dragon and Yakuza franchises, Stranger Than Heaven is being described as a sweeping action-adventure story spanning 50 years.
The narrative follows Makoto Daito, a young man born to an American father and Japanese mother, who must navigate questions of identity, belonging and survival after losing both parents.
The game unfolds across five cities and multiple eras of modern Japanese history.
Snoop Dogg and his son Cordell Broadus will also appear as characters, alongside a cast featuring actors, musicians and performers from Japan and beyond.
Another posthumous appearance for Tupac
This is not the first time Tupac has been digitally recreated for a major entertainment project.
One of the most famous examples came during the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, when a holographic version of the rapper appeared alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in a performance that generated global headlines.
More recently, Tupac’s estate took action against the use of what was alleged to be an AI-generated version of his voice during a high-profile rap feud involving Drake.
The estate’s involvement in Stranger Than Heaven appears designed to ensure that any use of the rapper’s image remains carefully controlled and officially authorised.
Stranger Than Heaven release date confirmed
Stranger Than Heaven is scheduled for release on 15 January 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The game will also be available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers from launch day.
For both gaming and hip-hop fans, the inclusion of Tupac is likely to be one of the most talked-about aspects of a project that is already generating significant interest ahead of its release.
