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 shall be launched alongside the spin-off recreation, Darkish Ties.
Yakuza 3 was launched in 2009 — that is over 15(!) years in the past now — and Yokoyama mentioned this remake “is the very best iteration of the unique recreation, Yakuza Kiwami 3.” Darkish Ties, nevertheless, is a “new, never-before-seen story,” which implies this basically bundles two video games in a single package deal.
“Like a Dragon & Yakuza collection will have fun its twentieth anniversary on December 8 of this 12 months,” the group mentioned. “We sincerely recognize your continued help of RGG Studio.”
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Darkish 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 “immediately 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 know-how developed by our gifted employees. The sport has developed 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 capable of 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 usually are not 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.”
“So as to significantly 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 a substitute took a extra aggressive method to make Yakuza Kiwami 3,” Horii mentioned.
🐉A LEGEND IS REBORN AND A NEW LEGACY BEGINS🐉Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Darkish Ties releases Feb 12, 2026 on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Swap™ 2, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC (Steam).👉Digital pre-orders now dwell (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 may count on two sorts of battle model, Dragon of the Dojima: Kiwami and a model new battle model, Ryukyu, which is impressed by generational Okinawan martial arts.
“For past a remake, Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a model new title, vastly developed from the unique,” Horii added, after which Sakamoto defined the brand new Darkish Ties story sees Yoshitaka Mine — chairman of the Hakuho Clan and a “well-liked character from the collection” — as protagonist for the primary time, becoming a member of the yakuza to “pursue unwavering bonds.”
Primarily a derivative, Darkish 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 legal underworld,” with a “refined however cool” fight model centered round boxing.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Darkish Ties are out on February 12, 2026. You possibly can 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 out there, on November 13, 2025.
They’re additionally coming to PC through Steam, PS5, and Xbox Collection X and S, albeit slightly in a while December 8, 2025.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Lower
Yakuza 0: Director’s Lower is already out there on Nintendo Swap 2, however it’s now additionally coming to PC through Steam, PS5, and Xbox Collection X and S on December 8, 2025. Once more, it will out there each digitally and bodily.
Dwell-action Yakuza 3
Particulars have been slim right here, admittedly, however a live-action manufacturing that includes Kazuma Kiryu can be on the best way. The group engaged on this beforehand labored on certainly one of Japan’s hottest crime collection, Nihon Touitsu.
“By way of 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 will even be out there “to make this extra accessible for these of you around the globe.”
Stranger Than Heaven
To shut out the livestream, followers have been handled to a quick behind-the-scenes snippet of Stranger Than Heaven, which can be in improvement. We do not get to see a lot, sadly — the video is just 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 Challenge
I am afraid I’ve nothing extra to report right here aside from to reiterate that Yokoyama mentioned a “new Virtua Fighter mission” was on the best way. Watch this house…
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and guide with 15+ years expertise working with a few of the world’s largest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.
