Tag: Yakuza
Soapbox Judgment and the Yakuza Series Are the Undisputed Kings of Minigames
Kamurocho's true calling
If you've played a Yakuza game, then you already know how good the side activities are. Often far more in-depth than minigames have any right to be, these optional distractions can be ignored entirely -- or they can soak up hours and hours and hours of your life. I recently played through Judgment for review. Essentially a...
News SEGA Press Conference Will Spill the Beans on the Next Yakuza Game in August
Show me the money
On the 29th August, SEGA will host a Yakuza-related press conference in Japan. It's highly likely that the event will give us our first real look at the next Yakuza title -- the first game in the mainline series that won't star longtime protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Indeed, we don't know much about this upcoming instalment. The main...
News New Yakuza Game Gets a Female Co-Star, More Details Next Month
More info late next month
Yakuza series producer Daisuke Sato teased that new information for the next entry in the franchise would be released today, and while he has delivered on that promise, what we've learned isn't exactly what we would call substantial. The next Yakuza game will feature a female co-star, and we now know that Eri Kamataki will...
News SEGA Talks About Remaking Yakuza Samurai Spin-Off, Releasing It in the West
Just do it
Yakuza Kenzan is a Yakuza spin-off game that takes place in Edo period Japan, complete with samurai and predictably cool sword fights. It launched over a decade ago, all the way back in 2008, and it was the first Yakuza game to release on the PlayStation 3. However, it was never released outside of Japan. In the past, SEGA has at least...
News More Will Be Revealed About the New Yakuza Game Next Month
New details incoming
Yakuza Studio doesn't take a break, does it? This generation in particular, the team has been churning out some brilliant entries in its melodramatic series, while Judgment stands as a great side piece. We know the developer is hard at work on the next Yakuza game, this time starring a brand new protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga...
E3 2019 SEGA No Longer Considers Yakuza a PlayStation Exclusive Series
PC also very much on the agenda
Despite being developed and published by SEGA, the Yakuza franchise has historically been considered a PlayStation exclusive series. Creator Toshihiro Nagoshi has spoken in the past about how Sony was the only platform holder to really take an interest in the project to begin with, while the manufacturer famously...
News Yakuza Director Looks to Focus on PS4 'For a While Longer' Even After PS5 Launches
But he's excited nonetheless
With his next game set to release on PlayStation 4, Yakuza series director Toshihiro Nagoshi isn't quite ready to focus on the incoming PS5 just yet. Speaking during a recent SEGA livestream (as translated by Gematsu) the eccentric developer was asked about Sony's next-gen console, and although Nagoshi seems excited at...
News Development of the New Yakuza Game Is Progressing Smoothly, Story's Already Finished
That's what we like to hear
It sounds like the next instalment in the Yakuza series is really coming along. Series director Toshihiro Nagoshi talked about the upcoming title during a SEGA livestream (thanks Gematsu for the translation), saying that development is progressing smoothly. Apparently, the story's already finished, and now the team's busy...
News Direct Feed Footage of That Turn Based Yakuza April Fools Video Has Been Uploaded by SEGA
Fool me once
One of the better April Fools Day jokes to come out of the video game world yesterday was a "leaked" video of a Yakuza game with turn based combat. It was pretty funny, but the footage of the fake game was very well produced, and many fans wanted to see the whole thing without interruptions. SEGA has obliged, and the four-minute direct...
News Yakuza April Fools Video Shows Turn Based Battles in Upcoming Title
Yakuza, but with damage numbers
The official Japanese Yakuza YouTube channel has released a rather entertaining new video, supposedly leaking footage of the next Yakuza game. The off-screen recording shows fresh lead character Ichiban Kasuga entering combat with a bunch of thugs on the streets of Kamurocho, except instead of immediately dishing out...
News New Yakuza Game In Development on PS4, Stars a Fresh Main Character
Ichiban Kasuga's your man
SEGA has confirmed that there's a new Yakuza game in the works for PlayStation 4. It doesn't have an official title right now, but the project will star new character Ichiban Kasuga. Supposedly, the story of Kazuma Kiryu comes to an end with Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, so it's time for a change. Those who have been keeping...
News SEGA Teasing Yakuza Related Announcement at Kinda Funny Games Showcase
Nani?
Just a couple of days after The Game Awards 2018 comes Greg Miller's Kinda Funny Games Showcase, an event that'll apparently play host to nearly 50 titles. While the event is likely to be a platform primarily for smaller developers and less well-known games, it seems there could also be some more substantial announcements, if the below...
News Yakuza 4's Masayoshi Tanimura Recast for PS4 Re-Release
Head swap
Yakuza 4 will release on the PlayStation 4 from 17th January in Japan, and SEGA’s announced that its recast the role of Masayoshi Tanimura. One of the game’s four primary protagonists, the rookie cop was originally played by Hiroki Narimiya, but he’s since retired from acting after allegations about his personal life. In order to...
News Yakuza Survey Hints at Feudal Japan Spin-Offs Potentially Coming West
Yes please
As if there weren't enough samurai-based games heading our way, SEGA is potentially thinking about giving us a couple more. Invested Yakuza fans may already know of Yakuza: Ishin! and Yakuza: Kenzan!, two spin-off titles that are basically your usual Yakuza games, only they're set in feudal Japan. The former launched on...
Hands On Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Could Be One of the Best Yakuza Games Yet
An extreme remake
Before Yakuza was niche on the PlayStation 3, it was even more niche on the PlayStation 2. The original Yakuza was undeniably rough around the edges and its somewhat shaky remake, Yakuza: Kiwami, reflected that. But with Yakuza 2, the series found a real foothold. Improved gameplay and a more complex, intriguing narrative pushed...
News Sony Was the Only Platform Holder to Not Reject Yakuza
And we're so very glad
Regular readers will know that the Yakuza series is very near and dear to our hearts here at Push Square. We've been singing the series' praises since the days of the PlayStation 2, and (hopefully) without sounding too smug about it, we're really happy to see the franchise finally catch on with a wider audience here in...
News Yakuza 3 Shows Its Age with New PS4 Remaster Screenshots
Mini games shown off
Yakuza 3, as well as 4 and 5, are set to receive PS4 remasters in Japan, and these new screenshots show off what we can expect when they eventually make their way to the West. While it's a step up from the original release, it's looking a little rough around the edges, but we doubt Yakuza fans will be concerned about that - the...
News Take a Peek into Kaz's Love Life with the Latest Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Trailer
Dragon heart
Yakuza protagonist Kazuma Kiryu is a bit of a clutz when it comes to serious romance, but if you plan on picking up Yakuza: Kiwami 2 next month, you'll get a rare glimpse into Kaz's love life. We won't go into too much detail here, but the game's latest trailer sets the tone nicely. As with most things in Yakuza, this particular...
News The West Likes Yakuza Because It Doesn't Pander to Western Tastes, Says SEGA
Preach
SEGA has come a long way since the days of removing parts of Yakuza 3 because western audiences wouldn't "get it". Speaking to GameIndustry, SEGA Europe boss John Clark says that Yakuza has found its footing here in the West because it doesn't shy away from its Japanese roots. "We're not turning every Yakuza title into an open-world...
Guide Which Yakuza Games to Play and a Yakuza Series Beginners Guide
Uncle Kaz is here
SEGA's Yakuza series has been around since the days of the PlayStation 2, but only over the last year or so has it really began to seep into the consciousness of a wider Western audience. This is largely thanks to 2017's Yakuza 0, which sparked a whole new wave of interest on PlayStation 4. It helped, of course, that Yakuza 0 ended...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Demo Now Available on PS4
New story trailer released
Are you ready for even more Kiryu action on PS4? A demo for Yakuza: Kiwami 2 has been made available on the PlayStation Store today, giving you a taster of what to expect from this remake of the second game in the series. A small selection of mini games and sub stories will be unlocked for you to enjoy as you explore...
E3 2018 Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Rocks One of the Best Trailers of E3
Rock the dragon
We've seen a lot of trailers over the last few days (well duh, it's E3), but honestly, we reckon one of the best videos of them all didn't even show up at a press conference. That's right, the Push Square Yakuza Fanboy Squad is back, and we declare that this E3 trailer for Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is right up there with the...
News Sounds Like the Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 PS4 Remasters Will Head West After All
SEGA chief suggests so
Last week, we learned that SEGA plans to release remasters of Yakuza adventures 3, 4, and 5 on PS4, but they were only confirmed for Japan. However, a new quote from SEGA's chief creative officer, Toshihiro Nagoshi, suggests that the remasters will head to Western territories. Speaking on a SEGA live stream yesterday,...
News Here's What Yakuza 3 Looks Like Remastered on PS4
That's rad
Earlier in the week, we learned that the three main last-gen Yakuza games -- 3, 4, and 5 -- will be getting the remaster treatment on PS4, at least in Japan. While we wait to find out if a Western release is on the cards, SEGA has released a trailer for Yakuza 3 Remastered (or whatever it's called), as well as a bunch of screenshots...
News Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 Remasters Heading to PS4
In Japan
The excellent Yakuza 0 kicked off a heightened interest in SEGA's series in the West. Since its release, we've had Yakuza: Kiwami and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, and Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is on its way later this year. That's a lot to be getting on with, but there's still a huge gap between 2 and 6 on PS4. Currently, if you want to play every...
News SEGA May Consider Bringing Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 to PS4 if There's Demand
Will of the dragon
In a recent PlayStation Access interview, Yakuza series producer Daisuke Sato gave fans a glimmer of hope regarding more Yakuza titles on PlayStation 4. Right now, Yakuza 0, Yakuza: Kiwami, and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life are all playable on Sony's current-gen console, with Yakuza: Kiwami 2 launching later this year in the...
News Yakuza Producer Sums the Series Up with One Perfect Sentence
Spot on
Just recently, PlayStation Access got the chance to interview Daisuke Sato, the producer behind SEGA's Yakuza series. It's a pretty interesting video (which we've embedded above), but there's one particular answer Sato gives that's absolutely spot on. When asked to sum up Yakuza in just a single sentence, Sato replies "it's difficult...
News Yakuza Studio Working on a Brand New IP, Says SEGA Boss
Nani?
We're already aware that SEGA's Yakuza Studio is currently developing another Yakuza title, as well as a Fist of the North Star brawler that might come West, but that's not all it has up its sleeve. According to Haruki Satomi, CEO of SEGA Sammy Holdings, SEGA is planning to challenge new IP on all manner
Guide Yakuza 6: The Song of Life FAQ - Everything You Need to Know
All your questions answered
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life launches this week on PlayStation 4. The final chapter in series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's story, fans of the franchise will likely be diving straight in, but just in case you're new or perhaps a little unsure, we've put together this guide on the most frequently asked questions that we get...
News Yakuza 6's Release Roll Out Continues to Be a Mess
English version available now in some countries
What the frig is the deal with Yakuza 6: The Song of Life? Delayed into April on the PlayStation 4, we’ve already played the title in its entirety and published our review. And now the release has popped up in South East Asian shops, with English subtitles, amid very
News Yakuza 6 Demo Coming Back to PS4 Following Full Release Fumble
Available early this week
The demo for Yakuza 6: The Song of Life was only made available for a short time, as SEGA inadvertently released the full game on the North American PlayStation Store and, understandably, quickly removed it. Having now been unavailable for a few weeks, SEGA announced yesterday that the demo will be making a return soon...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Heats Up Western Shores from 28th August
That's rad
Gone are the days when you had to rely on Sony to localise Yakuza games, as SEGA has announced that Yakuza: Kiwami 2 will brawl to Western shores from 28th August. Announced on an official stream earlier this evening, the title is a full remake of PlayStation 2 instalment Yakuza 2, built using the brand new Yakuza 6: The Song of Life...
News Watch 25 Minutes of Yakuza 6 Open World Gameplay on PS4
Street fighter
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is almost upon us. With only mere weeks left until we can all grapple with Kaz's latest adventure, a new video from PlayStation Underground has appeared to fill the time. It's a 25 minute video that dives into purely open world stuff, so there's no need to worry about spoilers here. We get a look at how...
Hands On Yakuza 6 PS4 Demo Promises Big Changes for Kiryu's Final Adventure
It's Kamurocho, but not as we know it
We're all big fans of the Yakuza series here at Push Square Towers, so when SEGA (rather messily) released a demo of Yakuza 6 last week, we began swinging bicycles at each other in delight. Last year's Yakuza 0 was fantastic, telling a compelling origin story for main man Kiryu and series mainstay Majima, a
News Sony Removes Access to Yakuza 6 Following Demo Mix Up
Heat action
Following on from news that SEGA mistakenly stuck the entirety of Yakuza 6 on the North American PlayStation Store instead of the demo, Sony has taken action by revoking the licence to the demo. In the US, if you downloaded the demo, the app icon should now have a padlock in the bottom right corner, meaning you can no longer play it,...
News SEGA Accidentally Released Yakuza 6 in Full on US PlayStation Store Instead of Demo
Now unavailable
This is pretty mad: today saw the launch of the demo version of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, but SEGA inadvertently published the full, unlocked game on the North American PlayStation Store. When you download the demo, you're actually downloading the whole game (hence the size), but the majority of the content will remain locked off...
News You're Gonna Need a Lot of Space for That Yakuza 6 Demo on PS4
It's bloody huge
So, that Yakuza 6 demo is starting to appear on the PlayStation Store in various regions. Officially due out on the 27th February (that's tomorrow at the time of writing), you'll be able to carry over your progress from the demo into the full game, which is set to launch on the 17th April. There's just one small potential problem,...
News Heat Things Up with 2 Hours of Yakuza 6 English Gameplay
Kazing in
Those lucky b*stards over at PlayStation Access have done it again, streaming two whole hours of English Yakuza 6 gameplay. It's fair to say that the game's looking pretty bloody good -- as is the localisation. Yakuza 0 has really set the bar for Japanese to English translation, so we're glad to see that this upcoming instalment appears to...
News Yakuza 6 Delayed, Demo to Release This Month
Nani?!
On the game's official Twitter feed, it has been announced that Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be delayed from 20th March to 17th April. No real reason was given, but we assume the game needed that little bit of extra time to get everything polished up as much as possible. The statement continues, announcing that there will be a demo made...
News You Can Create Your Own Clan in Yakuza 6 on PS4
Nani?
A new trailer for Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has appeared, this time showcasing the game's clan creator mode. As is typical of Yakuza's extracurricular activities, it looks relatively deep. You recruit clan members by fighting and defeating them, and once they're on board, you can place them in a hierarchy from chairman (our main man Kaz,...
News New Trailer for Yakuza 6 Highlights Typically Excellent Minigames
That's rad
There are many things that the Yakuza series brings to the table, but its penchant for fleshed out and eclectic minigames is always a joy to behold. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be no different, it seems; this new trailer focuses on what kind of activities you'll be able to partake in during Kiryu's downtime. The minigames shown vary...
Game of the Year 2017 #8 - Yakuza 0
Smooth criminal
The Yakuza series has been around since the heyday of PlayStation 2, and yet the series never really felt like it got going in the West. This author's in the camp where he had never really played a Yakuza game before 0. This flashback episode opened up an entry point to a series that has forever held interest only for many to be...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Demo Punches Japanese PS Store in the Face
Take that
Things are heating up on the Japanese PlayStation Store, with the release of the Yakuza: Kiwami 2 demo. Those of you with a JPN PSN account (they’re pretty easy to create) will be able to download the 9.89GB demo right now. Naturally it’s all in a foreign tongue, but fans of the franchise shouldn’t have too much bother navigating the...
News Here's Almost 2 Hours of Yakuza 6 PS4 Gameplay in English
Kiryu-chan!
Those incredibly lucky b*stards over at PlayStation Access have got their hands on an English version of Yakuza 6, months ahead of the full game's launch in March next year. Fortunately, they've been kind enough to stream almost two hours of gameplay, which is now archived for your viewing pleasure. The footage features general...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Demo Will Heat Up the Japanese PS Store Next Week
Suits Kiryu, sir
We’ve been treated to more Yakuza than we probably deserve in recent months, with the franchise enjoying something of a belated renaissance in Western territories. Overseas it’s business as usual, as SEGA readies Yakuza: Kiwami 2 for release – a full-blown remake of the second game in the series. And those of you with Japanese...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Looks Bloody Brilliant in Lengthy New Trailers
Enter the dragon
Built on Yakuza 6's Dragon Engine, Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is looking fantastic in these two extended Tokyo Game Show 2017 trailers. The one at the top is the title's reworked story trailer, while the video below outlines the many gameplay mechanics of the upcoming remake. Yakuza 2 is considered by many fans to be one of...
TGS 2017 Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Nabs Another Questionable Side Activity
Say cheese
The Yakuza series is no stranger to, er, somewhat questionable side activities. Yakuza 0, for example, introduced a minigame in which you watch scantily clad women wrestle in an underground area and place bets on who you think will come out on top. We're not sure whether stuff like this goes down well with everyone, but the bottom line is...
TGS 2017 Over 20 Minutes of Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Gameplay Shows an Impressive Remake
The boys are back in town
Yakuza: Kiwami 2 is set to be a thoroughly entertaining return to what is arguably one of the best titles in the series. Yakuza 2 launched on the PlayStation 2 all the way back in 2006, and thanks to the lovely looking Dragon Engine -- which also forms the basis for the upcoming Yakuza 6 -- the adventure is back with a...
News Yakuza Online Kickstarts Post-Kazuma Kiryu Storyline
Starting over
While we’ll need to wait for Yakuza 6: The Song of Life before we can officially deem Kazuma Kiryu’s story done and dusted, Japan already knows what becomes of the Dragon of Dojima. It brings an interesting challenge for Yakuza Studio, as the series is a consistent performer in Japan and is more popular than ever in the West, so it...
News Yakuza: Kiwami 2 Officially Announced with Rocking Cinematic Trailer
Kamurocho calling
The official announcement of Yakuza: Kiwami 2 comes as no surprise seeing as the game's existence was leaked yesterday, but at least now we've got a badass reveal trailer. The big story here is that the remake will use Yakuza 6's flashy new engine, which looks bloody lovely. If memory serves us correctly, the original Yakuza...
