Is This "The End" Of The Yakuza Franchise As We Know It?

Much of SEGA's marketing muscle is going into the upcoming PSP title, which is due much sooner than its PlayStation 3 brethren. Hence why this morning's Famitsu magazine is so shocking.

Building up to the game's full reveal at next month's Tokyo Game Show, SEGA's placed a mysterious advert in the Japanese Gaming Bible. The image shows the familiar Yakuza setting, Kamurocho, bombed and burnt out. The headline simply reads: "The End". What could this mean for Kazuma Kiryu — and more importantly, all the lovely hostess ladies?

We'll find out at TGS. We absolutely cannot wait.