In a single day, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio director and government producer Masayoshi Yokoyama launched RGG Direct 2025, a livestream mainly devoted to a remake of the beforehand leaked Yakuza 3, which will likely be launched alongside the spin-off recreation, Dark Ties.
Yakuza 3 was launched in 2009 — that is over 15(!) years in the past now — and Yokoyama mentioned this remake “is the perfect iteration of the unique recreation, Yakuza Kiwami 3.” Dark Ties, nonetheless, is a “new, never-before-seen story,” which implies this primarily bundles two video games in a single bundle.
“Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection will rejoice its twentieth anniversary on December 8 of this yr,” the group mentioned. “We sincerely admire your continued help of RGG Studio.”
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties
“We’re growing [Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties] primarily based on the idea ‘a legend is reborn and a brand new legacy begins,'” Yokoyama added, after which chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto mentioned that each Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 “straight hyperlink to this title.” Producer/director Ryosuke Horii launched particulars concerning the upcoming recreation, which is out in February 2026.
“[Kiwami 3] is a complete remake of 2009’s Yakuza 3,” he defined. “We have rebuilt it from the bottom up utilizing the most recent expertise developed by our gifted employees. The sport has advanced enormously with a great deal of new cutscenes and newly added recreation components. I can proudly say that we’re delivering a recreation worthy of the Kiwami title.”
We had fun with the unique, awarding it 8.5/10 again in 2010, however whereas the remake follows Yakuza 3’s story, RGG has added cutscenes “that we weren’t in a position to absolutely ship earlier than.”
“Whether or not it is Kiryu and his pal Rikiya Shimabukuro, or enemies like Mine, Kanda, and Hamazaki, we have additional detailed their ideas and actions to higher depict the human situation and connection,” Horii added.
Further scenes aren’t the one new issues coming to the sport, both. Gamers can count on re-recorded voice strains in addition to model new ones, and “overhauled” animations, with some scenes “modified drastically with totally different developments and outcomes.”
“In an effort to tremendously outdo ourselves and make a recreation that everybody will love, we did not take the secure, defensive route by glorifying the previous with a easy remake, however as an alternative took a extra aggressive method to make Yakuza Kiwami 3,” Horii mentioned.
🐉A LEGEND IS REBORN AND A NEW LEGACY BEGINS🐉
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties releases Feb 12, 2026 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Swap™ 2, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC (Steam).
👉Digital pre-orders now reside (hyperlink in bio)! Bodily to observe in coming days.#YakuzaKiwami3… pic.twitter.com/hhIei4IUYv— RGG Studio | Like a Dragon & Yakuza Collection (@RGGStudio) September 24, 2025
The battle system has additionally been reworked so you possibly can count on two sorts of battle fashion, Dragon of the Dojima: Kiwami and a model new battle fashion, Ryukyu, which is impressed by generational Okinawan martial arts.
“For past a remake, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a model new title, vastly advanced from the unique,” Horii added, after which Sakamoto defined the brand new Dark Ties story sees Yoshitaka Mine — chairman of the Hakuho Clan and a “common character from the collection” — as protagonist for the primary time, becoming a member of the yakuza to “pursue unwavering bonds.”
Basically a by-product, Dark Ties is an action-adventure recreation that depicts the occasions main as much as Yakuza 3. It is a story of the “gritty actuality of human relationships within the prison underworld,” with a “refined however cool” fight fashion centered round boxing.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties are out on February 12, 2026. You’ll be able to pre-order now.
Yakuza Kiwami 1 and Yakuza Kiwami 2
In the meantime, each Yakuza Kiwami 1 and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are coming to Nintendo Swap 2, with each bodily and digital editions accessible, on November 13, 2025.
They’re additionally coming to PC by way of Steam, PS5, and Xbox Collection X and S, albeit somewhat in a while December 8, 2025.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Minimize
Yakuza 0: Director’s Minimize is already accessible on Nintendo Swap 2, but it surely’s now additionally coming to PC by way of Steam, PS5, and Xbox Collection X and S on December 8, 2025. Once more, it will accessible each digitally and bodily.
Reside-action Yakuza 3
(*3*)
Particulars had been slim right here, admittedly, however a live-action manufacturing that includes Kazuma Kiryu can also be on the best way. The group engaged on this beforehand labored on one in all Japan’s hottest crime collection, Nihon Touitsu.
“Via the collaboration of the sport and the live-action drama themed across the underworld, we’re creating a piece to make Yakuza much more accessible to these unfamiliar with the collection,” Yokoyama defined, including that multilingual localization may even be accessible “to make this extra accessible for these of you world wide.”
Stranger Than Heaven
To shut out the livestream, followers had been handled to a short behind-the-scenes snippet of Stranger Than Heaven, which can also be in growth. We do not get to see a lot, sadly — the video is barely a few minutes lengthy — however the group is making good progress, as showcased by a BTS peek at programming, mocapping, and extra.
New Virtua Fighter Mission
I am afraid I’ve nothing extra to report right here aside from to reiterate that Yokoyama mentioned a “new Virtua Fighter venture” was on the best way. Watch this area…
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and marketing consultant with 15+ years expertise working with a few of the world’s greatest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.