Tag: Yakuza
News No More Yakuza Kiwami Games After Kiwami 3 Story Changes, New Series Could Happen
"Kiwami 3 will be the last one"
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...
PSA This Is Your Last Chance to Grab Yakuza 3 Remastered Before Its Ridiculous Removal
Extreme measures
Just in case you didn't already know, Yakuza 3 Remastered will be delisted from digital storefronts from the 12th February, as that's when Yakuza Kiwami 3 launches. To be clear, the remaster will still technically be available to purchase after this date — but only via the expensive Yakuza Complete Series Bundle, which is priced...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3's Dodgy Visuals Will Be Fixed in a Launch Day Patch
Look out for update 1.11 on PS5, PS4
RGG Studio will have a PS5, PS4 update ready for the launch day of Yakuza Kiwami 3 to fix the graphical flaws and bugs that have been going viral across social media for the past week. A social media post from the developer confirms that version 1.11 — which will be available for launch on 12th February 2026...
News Yakuza Fan Concerns Come to a Head Over Dodgy Kiwami 3 Graphics
PC demo review bombed for a variety of issues
Next month's Yakuza Kiwami 3 will almost certainly be a solid remake of the PS3 original when all is said and done, but some small issues and flaws are starting to attract the attention of its hardcore fanbase. In the recently released demo, one street in particular has fans worried. The graphics look...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Demo Out Now on PS5, and It's a Big One
That's rad!
As promised, a playable demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will drop on PS5 in the very near future. Its official release timing is 9pm PT on the 21st January — so it'll technically be available on the 22nd January in most regions, at 2am ET / 5am GMT / 6am CET. It sounds like this'll be a meaty demo, by the way. It'll let you run...
Begone, Blockuza 3
Based on everything we've seen of it so far, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is shaping up to be a seriously robust remake of what many would consider to be a PS3 classic. But what was the process behind expanding and reworking such a beloved instalment? As reported by Automaton, producer and director Ryosuke Horii has dished out some pretty...
News Yakuza's Makers Have Made Another Unforced Error
Here we go again
For as good as we think Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is shaping up to be – seriously, look at that growing list of included retro games alone – there’s no question RGG Studio has been cocking up. Recently it made the controversial decision to permanently delist the original PS4 version of
News Woah! Yet Another SEGA Arcade Oddity Confirmed for Yakuza Kiwami 3 on PS5, PS4
And full Game Gear list, too
Forget about the core remade campaign starring Kazuma Kiryu and new side-story involving Yoshitaka Mine: the upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on PS5 and PS4 is shaping up to be one helluva retro compilation as well. We’ve already reported on the inclusion of arcade gems Emergency Call Ambulance and
News You'll Be Able to Try Yakuza Kiwami 3 Before You Buy It on PS5, PS4
Demo announced with more details to follow
Many of you will have fallen in love with the Yakuza franchise because of Yakuza 3, as it was the first PS3 entry to release overseas. But regardless of your relationship with the game, you’ll be able to try out Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties courtesy of a demo prior to release. There’s no word just yet...
News Arcade Beat-'Em-Up SlashOut Joins Emergency Call Ambulance in Yakuza Kiwami 3 on PS5, PS4
The successor to SpikeOut included
SlashOut, the hack-and-slash successor to the Toshihiro Nagoshi directed SpikeOut – most recently included in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – will be fully playable in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. It’ll join the previously announced
News Free Yakuza Kiwami 3 Costumes Up for Grabs Ahead of Release
Is that you, Ichiban?
If you're eager to have as many outfit options available to you as possible in Yakuza Kiwami 3, then you may want to check out SEGA's latest promotion for the game. The publisher's offering up two exclusive costumes for Kiryu in exchange for creating a SEGA account. Good news if you've already got one, we suppose. Said...
News SEGA Classic Emergency Call Ambulance Comes to PS5, PS4 via Yakuza 3 Remake
And experience emulated Game Gear games, too
Last night’s Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties broadcast didn’t include a whole lot of new information, as we’ve already reported extensively on protagonist Kazuma Kiryu’s new orphanage and motorcycle gang minigames. But the very end of the latest trailer does tease one v
News Run a Motorcycle Gang During Your Downtime in Yakuza 3's PS5 Remake
Holding out for a hero
When he’s not stitching clothes and helping out with homework at his Morning Glory Orphanage, seasoned Yakuza hero Kazuma Kiryu will be running his own motorcycle gang. Another side activity announced for upcoming remake Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties includes a mode named Bad Boy Dragon, where you’ll recruit a motley crew...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Gameplay Deep Dive Announced for Next Week
That's rad
Developer RGG Studio will host a 'Direct' livestream for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties next week, showcasing gameplay systems and mechanics. If you're already interested in the upcoming remake, then this should be a decent watch. We already know that Kiwami 3 is making changes to how Kiryu fights — he's got a whole new weapon-based...
News Yakuza Dev 'Exploring a Solution' for Botched Kiwami PS5 Upgrade
"It will take some more time"
It’s been over a week since Yakuza Kiwami re-released on the PS5, and we finally have an update on the game’s botched upgrade path. For those who don’t know, anyone who owns the original digitally on the PS4 is supposed to be eligible for a $1.99 upgrade. But it doesn’t work, and SEGA has been silent about the...
News Yakuza / Like a Dragon Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Kiryu Fans Won't Want to Miss It
Be strong, kyodai
The Yakuza / Like a Dragon franchise is now officially 20 years old, and RGG Studio has produced a rather touching little video to celebrate. Said video shows the past 20 years of a man's life, as he goes from being an overwhelmed university student to a stressed out office worker. Granted, this doesn't sound very celebratory,...
"It wouldn’t be Like a Dragon"
Longtime readers of Push Square will know that we've always championed the Yakuza / Like a Dragon games, but the series has — relatively speaking — exploded in popularity over the last decade or so. The outstanding Yakuza 0 played a huge part in introducing the franchise to a wider western audience, but even...
The Dark Ties that bind us
Yakuza Kiwami 3 will apparently feature "major hints" about where the Like a Dragon series is heading, despite being a PS5 and PS4 remake of a PS3 title. This is according to RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama, who isn't a stranger to saying stuff that'll make Yakuza fans sit up and take notice. "It contains some...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 Becomes an Orphanage Sim with Massively Expanded Morning Glory Minigames
Daddy cool
If you ever played the original Yakuza 3 on the PS3, you may recall its notoriously slow start. The game spends several hours in Okinawa, with seasoned protagonist Kazuma Kiryu retired from the Yakuza lifestyle and running his Morning Glory orphanage. (As an aside, it was renamed the Sunshine Orphanage in the Western versions of the...
PSA The Original Yakuza 0 Will Be Delisted Forever When Director's Cut Drops on PS5
0 hour
When Yakuza 0 Director's Cut releases on the 8th December for PS5, the original Yakuza 0 — the PS4 game — will no longer be available to purchase digitally. This delisting has now been confirmed by SEGA, so if you want to play Yakuza 0 in its initial form at some point in the future — and you're not planning on grabbing a physical copy...
News Yakuza Kiwami 2 Has All-Important 60FPS Performance on PS5 Alongside Free Upgrade
Finally
Bafflingly buried within the questions and answers section of SEGA's Japanese website, the publisher finally confirms that Yakuza Kiwami 2 will run at 60 frames-per-second on PS5. The fantastic remake is being re-released for Sony's current-gen system on the 8th December, and it'll be a free upgrade for those who already own the PS4 version...
News Yakuza 0, Kiwami, Kiwami 2 Get Discount PS5 Upgrade Paths, But Only for PS4 Digital Owners
Kiwami 2 is free
SEGA has confirmed that those who own Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, or Yakuza Kiwami 2 on PS4 can take advantage of discounted upgrade paths when buying the new versions on PS5. All three PS5 re-releases are due to launch on the 8th December, but there is a catch in that these upgrade paths only apply to the digital versions of the PS4...
#REMOVEKAGAWA returns
An ongoing campaign against the recasting of a character in Yakuza Kiwami 3 — a remake of the original PS3 game — has gained some additional momentum today, as SEGA's released a new trailer that focuses on the title's Japanese voice talent. Goh Hamazaki, one of the game's main antagonists, was recast for this remake, with...
News For $1000, Maybe Get Married to Your Favourite Yakuza Character
Dreams do come true
Sometimes real people just don't cut it, and you've got little choice to but tie the knot with an entirely fictional stud / babe. That's the premise behind this new Like a Dragon exhibition in Japan, which will allow 15 lucky lottery winners to marry their favourite Yakuza character. Yes, this includes an actual ceremony,...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 Has a 'Significant Number of New Scenes'
More than a remake
Recently revealed remake Yakuza Kiwami 3 is going to be much more than a graphical glow-up. We knew this would be the case, of course, since developer RGG Studio unveiled the revival alongside Dark Ties — an entirely new, packed-in expansion that charts main antagonist Mine's rise to prominence. On top of that, Kiwami 3's got...
Preview It's Mine's Time to Shine in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
We play the all-new expansion included with SEGA's remaster
You never forget your first. And when it comes to Ryu ga Gotoku, many of you will have taken your first taste of the franchise with Yakuza 3. That’s because, in the West at least, it was the first entry in the series to release on Sony’s next-gen system at the time, the PS3...
News Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 Punching PS5 in the Mouth from 8th December
In case you still haven't played them
You can already play Yakuza Kiwami and its sequel Yakuza Kiwami 2 on the PS5 via backwards compatibility, but that’s not stopping SEGA from deploying a couple of native ports. Due out on 8th December, these new-gen re-releases will repackage RGG Studios’ remakes of the first two games in the Yakuza...
News No Upgrade Path for the Belated PS5 Version of Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
Acceptable in the 80s
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, the timed Switch 2 exclusive re-release of RGG Studio’s excellent late 80s adventure, will belatedly arrive on the PS5 from 8th December. But there’s a catch! There’ll be no upgrade path for existing owners of the PS4 game, and you won’t be able to transfer your save progress either...
News Run an Okinawa Orphanage for Hours and Hours in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties for PS5, PS4
Out on 12th February with all-new campaign
SEGA has announced Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, a remake of the third entry in the Ryu ga Gotoku franchise, originally released on the PS3 in 2009. It'll drop on 12th February for PS5 and PS4. The game splits its time between familiar location Kamurocho and Okinawa, where seasoned protagonist Kazuma...
Rumour Yakuza 0: Director's Cut Coming to PS5 This Year After Stint of Switch 2 Exclusivity
KUZE!
Still considered by many to be one of, if not the best game in the series, Yakuza 0 could soon be making a comeback on PS5. Earlier this year, SEGA released a slightly expanded version of the crime drama classic exclusively on Switch 2. The so-called Yakuza 0: Director's Cut features additional cutscenes, an action-heavy only co-op mode, and...
News Yakuza Kiwami 3 Seemingly Leaked on Dev Website
Could it be a State of Play reveal?
RGG Studio appears to have Yakuza Kiwami 3 in the works, as it's been spotted that the developer's website temporarily sported a reference to the remake in its Categories section. The mention has since been scrubbed, but was captured on social media, as seen below: It's been quite a few years since the Japanese...
News No Plans for Yakuza, Shenmue Cameos in New Virtua Fighter on PS5
"But it could change"
There are currently no plans to add guest SEGA characters to RGG Studio’s upcoming Virtua Fighter reboot – but that could change, according to producer Riichiro Yamada. Speaking with Giant Bomb at Evo recently, the veteran said development is currently focused on expanding Virtua Fighter’s world and lore, so the team’s...
News Yakuza 0's Director's Cut Has 26 Minutes of Extra Cutscenes PS5, PS4 Fans Will Want to See
Sadly, seemingly timed exclusive
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is currently only announced for the Nintendo Switch 2, but it sounds like it’ll be a timed exclusive judging by language used by the Mario maker. In a press release, the organisation said the prequel will be coming “first” to the new console, which is usually the language used when a...
News The Best Yakuza Game's Getting a Director's Cut, And It Could Come to PS5 and PS4 Later
Hero to 0
Yakuza 0 is considered by many — this author included — to be the best instalment in SEGA's storied franchise. How excited we were, then, to learn that a Director's Cut of this classic crime drama is dropping in the summer. There's one big problem if you're a PlayStation fan, however: Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is exclusive to Nintendo...
News Nautical Yakuza Goes Viral As Fans Fall in Love with New Piratical Like a Dragon on PS5, PS4
Ship shape
Could a gag game end up out-pirating the real pirate games? That’s the question Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii fans are pondering. SEGA hosted a short livestream to reveal new details about the forthcoming nautical escapade earlier this week, and some of its naval combat footage has gone viral. Many have pointed out how it...
News Even in a Wacky Nautical Spin-Off, Yakuza Just Feels Wrong in English
Japanese only
Nah, we just can’t do it. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may be a wacky nautical spin on the long-running series, but it still just doesn’t sound right in English. To be fair to SEGA, it’s assembled one helluva cast here. Matt Mercer, best known for voicing Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil and Jotaro Kujo in JoJo’s...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Yakuza / Like a Dragon?
Kamurocho's calling
How well do you know the Yakuza / Like a Dragon games? SEGA's crime drama series has been rolling since the days of the PS2, but it really hit the bigtime with the release of Yakuza 0 — especially outside of its native Japan. With so many titles to draw from, an in-depth quiz seemed like a great idea — and so we've put...
News Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on PS5, PS4 Looks Mad, Dog
Sea it to believe it
SEGA’s really gone off the deep end with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. A new info dump and a couple of short gameplay clips reveal what we mean, as they introduce Assassin’s Creed-esque naval battles and protagonist Majima’s new mythical sea creature special moves. As was the case in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The...
Why so serious?
If you’re a long-time Yakuza fan like this author, it’s worth remembering just how far the franchise now known as Like a Dragon has come. SEGA had once famously given up on the series outside of Japan, leaving Yakuza 5’s localisation duties to Sony. A little less than a decade later, it finds itself the subject of a...
No beating around the bush
SEGA’s not really being secretive about the reason behind its Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii release date change. In a video message, anchored by director Masayoshi Yokoyama, he admitted that the new 21st February launch will allow you to “play the game that comes after it with peace of mind”. That game is...
Tharrr she blows
Zany spin-off Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii has caught a strong headwind – and will release one week earlier on PS5 and PS4. Originally planned for 28th February, SEGA must have heard word of sea shanties involving the release date of Monster Hunter Wilds, and has decided to move forward to 21st February instead. This...
News Yakuza Wars Appears to Be a Mobile Game as Social Media Page Spotted
Not like this
Following an official trademark registration from SEGA last month, a Facebook page for Yakuza Wars has been found, lending further legitimacy to it being the real deal. The kicker for fans, though, is it appears to be a mobile game rather than the next big console release. BBGame is listed as the publisher, which makes mobile titles...
News RGG Summit 2024 Will Give Us the Latest from the Like a Dragon Team in September
Maybe they'll announce summit
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the development team behind the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, has announced the date and time for its next RGG Summit. These broadcasts come along whenever the studio has some news to share, and the next one will be going live in a matter of weeks. RGG Summit 2024 takes place on 20th September...
News Yakuza Wars May Be the 'Surprising' New Game from RGG Studio
SEGA registers the trademark
RGG Studio is ready to announce a new instalment in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series at the Tokyo Game Show next month, with the entry's genre supposedly being a surprise for fans. Ahead of the reveal, a new trademark has surfaced for something titled Yakuza Wars, which may be the new title. Fans are speculating this...
Get caught up on Kiryu and Ichiban
With the Like a Dragon: Yakuza television series set to debut on Amazon Prime this October, SEGA has published starter packs to the PS Store that bundle together some of the series' most important games for those getting started with the franchise. The Yakuza Series Starter Pack pairs Yakuza Kiwami with Yakuza...
News Next Like a Dragon Game Isn't Kiwami 3, But the Yakuza 3 Remake Is Happening 'Sooner or Later'
That's rad!
To no one's surprise, work is already underway on the next Like a Dragon game, with developer RGG Studio announcing that it's in the process of hosting character auditions. The team goes on to confirm that the next title is not Kiwami 3 — a remake of Yakuza 3, which originally released for the PS3 all the way back in 2009. However,...
News The Excellent Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Has Had a Huge Opening Weekend
Starting strong
Long gone are the dark days when fans had to lobby PlayStation to help SEGA localise the Yakuza games: this franchise has quietly matured into a bit of a cult hit. You won’t find Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth locking horns with Call of Duty at the top of the sales charts, but by all accounts, the latest entry is enjoying an...
News Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on PS5, PS4 Is Pokémon As Well Now
Gotta snag 'em all
Not content with aping Animal Crossing in its off-the-wall island building minigame, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will also add a Pokémon-inspired experience to its ever-expanding list of things to do. Sujimon, as its known, will see you collecting eclectic characters from all around Hawaii, and training them to create the...
News Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Will Add a Pinch of Roguelite Fun to Its PS5, PS4 Campaign
And why not?
It sounds like there will be a touch of the ol’ roguelike in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, as an update to the game’s official website – spotted by Games Radar – mentions the inclusion of a dungeon which changes each time you visit it. To be fair, the grinding in predecessor Yakuza
News Like a Dragon Gaiden's Controversial English Dub Is Selectable on PS5, PS4 Now
If you dare
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name has been warmly received on PS5 and PS4, but there’s been controversy surrounding its English dub. While most fans generally prefer to play the franchise with subtitles anyway, SEGA has found success adding English voiceovers to the series in recent years, making the franchise more...
