Sega and RGG Studio confirm Tupac Shakur’s digital appearance in Stranger Than Heaven
Sega has announced that Tupac Shakur will appear in the upcoming video game Stranger Than Heaven, with the integration supervised by his estate and explicitly excluding artificial intelligence.
Sega and RGG Studio have confirmed that the late rapper Tupac Shakur will appear in their upcoming video game, Stranger Than Heaven. The character, named Amaru, will accompany the protagonist through 1980s and 1990s Japan. The reveal was made by Snoop Dogg at Summer Games Fest 2026. Sega stated the integration was done with the permission of Tupac’s estate, Amaru Entertainment, and without the use of artificial intelligence. The game is scheduled for release in January 2027.
The announcement was delivered by Snoop Dogg alongside producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto at Summer Games Fest 2026. Dogg, who is credited on-screen in Pulp Fiction font, also used the platform to promote Death Row Games, a studio he co-founded with his son. A new trailer for the title shows the protagonist, Makoto Daito, embarking on a journey through latter 20th-century Japan, before Tupac steps out of the shadows wearing an open-chest kimono and his distinctive paisley print bandana.
Sega confirmed in a press release that the integration was crafted in close collaboration with Amaru Entertainment, which is providing ongoing supervision. The company stated that the character design was based on archival footage and photographs, and explicitly denied the use of artificial intelligence in the process. The character’s name, Amaru, is the birth name given to Tupac by his mother.
This development follows a history of digital resurrection for the late rapper, including a holographic appearance at Coachella in 2012 and the use of AI voice mimicry by Drake in 2024 during his feud with Kendrick Lamar. Tupac’s memory is considered sacrosanct in hip-hop culture, particularly on the West Coast, making such integrations a subject of ongoing debate.
Stranger Than Heaven is not the only title to feature digital resurrection, with Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, who died a decade ago, also set to appear in the game. The announcement coincides with broader industry developments at the festival, including the launch of Paramount Games Studio and the reveal of Resident Evil: Veronica by Capcom.
