SEGA apologises for Yakuza 3 cuts

By Robert Purchese Published 21 September, 2010

"I feel sorry for the fans" - producer.

Yakuza 3 producer Masayoshi Kikuchi has apologised for the cuts made to the Western version of the game.

He told Digital Spy "there was an argument with SEGA internally" about whether content "heavily rooted" in Japanese culture - such as hostess bars - should stay or go.

"We did what we thought would be good for the Western market," explained Kikuchi-san, "but after the game was released we received a lot of feedback from users in the complete opposite direction, asking for complete content."

"It was a big surprise for us. I'm definitely pleased that people wanted to see more, but at the same time, I feel sorry for the fans who were let down by the cut content."

The same mistake, he promised, will not be made with Yakuza 4. You'll have to wait until spring 2011 for the European version of that game, but not for the review - Eurogamer's Keza MacDonald set about appraising a Japanese import back in April.

Yakuza 3 was released in Europe in March. Eurogamer's Yakuza 3 review judged.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (26) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • mr_shoe_uk #1 2 years ago

    Yeah, it wasn't a major issue, but it's surprising if they really thought we'd 'prefer' a reduced version.

    At least they now see it wasn't a good idea.

  • riceNpea #2 2 years ago

    why cut it? it's a japanese game, set in japan, painstakingly recreating the Tokyo streets and drenched in japanese culture. i know what i'm buying in to. if anything it's the kind of thing i want to see.

  • siro #3 2 years ago

    I just started Yakuza 3. Great game. Not sure if I go for all the mini games, but if I can choose between Ufo Catcher or going to a Hostess Bar, the choice is quite clear... at least when the missus isn't in the room. ;)

  • Oh-Bollox #4 2 years ago

    Because of course, there's nothing like it in Western culture.

    /plays GTA, fucks a whore.

    /goes to Roppongi, spends an exorbitant amount of money in the hopes of maybe having his knob sucked by a Jap girl who deigns to have anything to do with round-eyes.

  • menage #5 2 years ago

    Yeah right, we already told you back then, but then Sega wouldn't listen hoping for a quick buck I guess

  • SpookyTang #6 2 years ago

    I'm just grateful they released it over here if i'm being honest, got the first 3 games ready to play once i get Mass Effect 2 done.

  • Kaminari #7 2 years ago

    "I feel sorry for the fans who were let down by the cut content."

    It's ok, Kikuchi-san. I cancelled my preorder right before I could complain about the missing content, so everything's fine.

  • LR100 #8 2 years ago

    Wow, I am shocked, after months of silence, someone finally says something!

  • ShadowMountain #9 2 years ago

    People power! Yay!

    Recently finished Yakuza 1 on the ps2 and looking forward to 2 and 3. I hope the 'hostess' stuff improves though because in 1 I didn't see wha the fuss was about. It felt shallow and I was constantly broke in the game so I couldn't afford to waste money on girls (just like real life lol!).

    I just wanna punch doods in the face, be the badass and get along with the story.

  • Lord_Gremlin #10 2 years ago

    Holy hell, Masayoshi you dumb dork! It's not a surprise, people play japanese games because they want japanese content. For some people it was a big deal. Yakuza without Host Clubs is like mafiosi without strip clubs - totally gay.

    P.S. I've actually bought western version of Yakuza 3 at launch.

  • 8bitMofo #11 2 years ago

    I see a perfect DLC opportunity

  • citizenHUNTER #12 2 years ago

    They fail to realise that we buy a Japanese game to experience a bit of the Japanese culture, something I'm personally very fond of. Please don't water down your content to fit what you think Westerners want. Yes most of us might be clunk0head idiots (especially the yank market), but some of us like a bit of quirky culture.

    I fear for the future of games if everyone's focussed on making games that appeal to the racist homophobic little runts in the West.

  • GundamJehutyKai #13 2 years ago

    I'll believe what sega says when I have the game running in front of me and after having played through it once. Sega haven't been particularly attentive to what fans want with regards to their in house games except for many sonic 4 so excuse me if I'm mire than a little skeptical if anything they say.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #14 2 years ago

    Never played any of the Yakuza games and I wasn't even aware that content was cut but I find this indeed very strange. Also because it's an incredibly ignorant assumption that everything outside of Japan is 'the western audience' who does not know better than to shoot people in the face and thus everything connected to foreign cultures should better be cut since 'we' would not understand it anyway.

  • Carroceiro #15 2 years ago

    To me, it was much worse that Yakuza Kenzan never got localized. I mean, why?

  • raion #16 2 years ago

    But wait? Wasn't the cut content cut for time and money reasons? What's all this about culture shock? "A" for consistency there.
    Speaking of which, what about the psp one? Are we going to see an international release?

  • twoism #17 2 years ago

    Awesome news, I'm so glad they've realized and acknowledged their mistake. I can 100% look forward to Yakuza 4 now, can't wait.

  • Cappy #18 2 years ago

    A apology isn't much use when that version of the game complete with clumsily hacked out parts will always be there.

  • grrdoo #19 2 years ago

    @Der_tolle_Emil

    Full list of cut content from the US and EU edition

    http://forums.sega.com/showthread.php?s=...

    https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e...
    Edited by grrdoo at 21/09/10 @ 21:41

  • Retroid #20 2 years ago

    They were surprised?

    Really?

    Someone doesn't understand the audience for these games.

  • Sevens #21 2 years ago

    "It was a big surprise for us. I'm definitely pleased that people wanted to see more, but at the same time, I feel sorry for the fans who were let down by the cut content."

    And people complain about him apologizing. Oh boy.

  • cherryuk #22 2 years ago

    Sega - concentrate on the final chapter of Shenmue, no one really cares about Yakuza if they were honest!
    Edited by cherryuk at 21/09/10 @ 23:14

  • beep #23 2 years ago

    Gamers like to perve. Wot a shock.

  • djed #24 2 years ago

    pachinko mini game plox

  • Phily50 #25 2 years ago

    Nice of him to say so, I suppose.

  • apoc_reg #26 2 years ago

    Fair play to them. Wish they had just said this months ago!