RGG Studio won't be making new Kiwami versions of Yakuza 4 or Yakuza 5, as it's bringing the series to an end after the changes it made to the story in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
Instead, the controversial changes and additions to the narrative will likely lead to a new series of Yakuza games, studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama explained. During a livestream earlier today, he said he thinks Yakuza Kiwami 3 will be the "last one" and the "Kiwami line will come to an end". Instead of continuing the string of remakes, a "different series will begin".
Yokoyama explains this is a decision "you'll understand once you play" Yakuza Kiwami 3 because anything in the future will have a "different meaning".
On top of cutting important sub-stories and recasting an in-game character as a real-life sex offender, the new Dark Ties storyline makes big changes to the overall plot of the series. Essentially, the stories of Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5 don't work anymore following the narrative updates introduced in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
It may be that RGG Studio uses the basics of the fourth and fifth entries, but they will be vastly different to what fans are used to.
In our Yakuza Kiwami 3 PS5 review, we awarded an 8/10 rating and said: "Taken purely as an expanded remake, it's an absolute blast for fans both old and new — but questionable changes to the story and its cast will inevitably stain the experience for plenty of people."