ShareThis
The Yakuza series is absolutely legendary at this point. 2005 will mark the series’ 20th anniversary in Japan, believe it or not. And across those two decades, fans have come to know and love Yakuza for its over-the-top gangsters, loving recreation of Japan as a sandbox to run around and have fun, and its deep, engaging combat system. It wasn’t that long ago when Ryu Ga Gotoku studio head and Yakuza executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama said that porting the series to Switch would kill its “underground” feeling. Apparently, SEGA disagrees, as Yakuza Kiwami, the remake of the PlayStation 2 original, will be coming to Switch on October 24, 2024. Take a look:
The game casts you in a mystery starring Yakuza tough guy Kazuma Kiryu, the series’ beloved lead. The game is equal parts narrative, brawler, and exploring the sandbox of Kamurocho, a fake district in Japan meant to emulate Kabukicho, a real-life entertainment and red light district. A huge part of the allure of this series is just wandering around checking out all of the fun, interesting side activities that Kiryu can engage in, including playing classic SEGA arcade games, taking swings in batting cages, and much more besides. While it’s disappointing that Yakuza 0 wasn’t the first game ported to Switch, hopefully Yakuza Kiwami does well and the rest of the games will eventually make their way to the console.
Source: Indie World Showcase + Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 08.27.24
