Celebrating Like a Dragon & Yakuza’s 20th Anniversary: New Games Out At the moment, and What’s Coming Next

At the moment marks the 20^th Anniversary of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s acclaimed Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection, with Sega releasing three video games for gamers all over the world to take pleasure in – Yakuza 0 Director’s Minimize, plus new variations of Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 for Xbox Collection X|S.

The critically acclaimed origin story, Yakuza 0 Director’s Minimize options newly added cutscenes, an internet co-operative ‘Purple Gentle Raid’ mode, a new English dub, and added textual content language assist in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latam Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. The theme music ‘Bubble’ that was not included within the unique western launch of Yakuza 0 has additionally been added for followers to take pleasure in.

Yakuza Kiwami is the full remake of the sport that launched the collection almost 20 years in the past. Play as former yakuza Kazuma Kiryu and unwind a 10-billion-yen conspiracy in Tokyo’s red-light district, fueled by his fists and the unyielding resolve that may make him a legend. 

This up to date model options added textual content language assist in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latam Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. The songs ‘Obtain You [Reborn]’ and ‘Bleed’ that weren’t included within the unique western launch of Yakuza Kiwami have additionally been added.   

Yakuza Kiwami 2 has ‘The Dragon of Dojima’ Kazuma Kiryu return to face ‘The Dragon of Kansai,’ Ryuji Goda in an all-out warfare between rival Yakuza gangs within the sequel to Yakuza Kiwami. This up to date model options added textual content language assist in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Latam Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian.

RGG Studio’s Builders Mirror on the Collection’ Development & What’s Forward

In celebration of the Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection’ 20^th Anniversary, we caught up with some members of RGG Studio’s growth staff – Masayoshi Yokoyama, Hiroyuki Sakamoto and Ryosuke Horii – and chatted with them in regards to the collection’ development within the West, and what followers can stay up for subsequent for the collection.

Are you able to share your impressions or recollections in regards to the Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection within the West?

Masayoshi Yokoyama, RGG Studio Consultant & Govt Producer: Properly in Japan, the primary Yakuza recreation gained recognition by phrase of mouth as a cabaret membership recreation the place you could possibly discover the nightlife district. The primary title turned a hit, and that led to the event of Yakuza 2 and subsequent video games. I feel the preliminary attraction within the West was additionally about experiencing Japanese metropolis life.

I consider gamers come to understand Japan itself by enjoying in Kamurocho—a metropolis impressed by Kabukicho, Japan’s largest leisure district. By the Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection, I consider gamers have come to take pleasure in experiencing Japanese tradition and way of life.

That is one thing we really wish to proceed cherishing going ahead.  So, I hope gamers will preserve having fun with the quirky Japan. Properly, in a approach, the actual Japan—by the Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection.

Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Like a Dragon & Yakuza Collection Chief Producer: Initially, it was a drama centered round Japan’s bustling downtown areas, and we developed it primarily for Japanese gamers. However then, as we regularly continued localizing it, I vividly keep in mind abroad followers really appreciating it as a uniquely compelling recreation.

Now, I actually consider it has grown past simply a Japanese recreation into an IP that folks everywhere in the world can take pleasure in. Shifting ahead, I wish to preserve striving to create insurance policies that permit everybody all over the world to take pleasure in it.     

Ryosuke Horii, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Darkish Ties Producer/Director:  It’s really superb that so many individuals all over the world discovered one thing distinctive about our titles. Though it was initially created for Japanese audiences in Japan, the truth that so many individuals discovered it fascinating is one thing I think about a actual blessing. We’re extremely grateful that folks selected to assist our video games from among the many huge array of great content material accessible.

Western and Japanese audiences have barely completely different tastes in what they like, particularly because it pertains to comedy. I feel our content material has fairly a few humorous components, and the way in which individuals latch onto these issues is completely different. I really feel just like the response is definitely stronger from individuals all over the world than it’s in Japan. And for me personally, I assume it’s karaoke. Even with karaoke like ‘Baka Mitai’, singing Japanese songs is fairly robust due to the completely different language. However everybody sings alongside like “Dame da ne, dame yo.” Seeing movies the place individuals overcome that language barrier, be taught our songs, and sing alongside collectively… effectively, it truly introduced tears to my eyes. Growth may be robust generally, and there’s a lot of frustration, however seeing that actually made me really feel, “Ah, I’m so glad we made this.” Yeah, that half actually caught with me.

What’s subsequent for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and the Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection?

Yokoyama: First off, I’m very assured within the high quality of our subsequent upcoming launch, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Darkish Ties releasing on February 12, 2026. I’m presently checking all of the gameplay myself, and I feel it’s turning out to be a very fascinating title.

This installment focuses extra on the characters than town, particularly Darkish Ties. It’s a title you possibly can take pleasure in by its character-focused method.

Horii: It’s a undertaking we’re deeply invested in. So, remaking it like this… effectively, it takes braveness, ? We naturally wrestled with how a lot to vary, however we felt that merely recreating one thing related would truly be disrespectful to the unique.

We challenged ourselves to intention for one thing much more fascinating. We wish it to be a title that each the unique Yakuza 3 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 followers may love. It’s a recreation the entire staff poured their hearts into making. If followers play it alongside Darkish Ties, we predict they’ll actually really feel that keenness we put into it.

Sakamoto: We’re actually additionally contemplating tasks that may observe after that.

Yokoyama: Going ahead, I consider Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will proceed creating works centered round Japanese tradition, cities, and varied different components, aiming to ship a full image of the Japan of right this moment to gamers. Please regulate our new endeavours.

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Begin or proceed your Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection journey right this moment with Yakuza 0 Director’s Minimize, Yakuza Kiwami, or Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Xbox Collection X|S, and you’ll be prepared for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Darkish Ties when it releases on February 12, 2026.

It’s arduous to consider we’re already celebrating 20 years of this superb collection. It appears like simply yesterday that Yakuza: Like a Dragon launched along with the Xbox Collection X|S again in 2020. Oh, how time flies… like a dragon.