Hip-Hop is at the center of the anticipated Sega video game, Stranger Than Heaven, as it announced that Snoop Dogg and late rapper Tupac Shakur are set to appear.
During Summer Game Fest, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced that the two of amerikkka’s most wanted will appear in the upcoming video game. The reveal instantly became one of the event’s biggest talking points, especially after Snoop Dogg confirmed that Tupac Shakur’s estate had approved the likeness.
According to the developers, Shakur will appear as a character named Amaru. The role was created in partnership with Amaru Entertainment, the company that manages Tupac’s estate and legacy.
Fellow rap icon Snoop Dogg, who also appears in the game, explained how the collaboration came together during the presentation.
“The Tupac estate and my son and myself, we work very closely together,” Snoop said. “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.”
The announcement marks another major moment in Tupac’s enduring cultural influence nearly three decades after his death in 1996.
Sega emphasized that the studio approached the project with care and respect. In a statement, the company confirmed that Tupac’s appearance was developed under the direct supervision of his estate.
“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,” Sega said.
The publisher also addressed concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and digital recreations of deceased public figures.
“RGG Studio is treating this integration with the utmost respect for his legacy,” the statement continued. “Every aspect was created in close collaboration and without the use of AI, including his character design based on archival footage and photographs.”
While details surrounding Amaru’s role remain under wraps, Sega says more information will be revealed in the coming months.
For now, the news has already generated excitement among gaming and hip-hop fans alike. Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur’s involvement promises a return for other legends in the video game landscape.
