Fifth Yakuza game in development

By Oli Welsh Published 8 May, 2009

Contemporary setting, different style.

SEGA firebrand Toshihiro Nagoshi has revealed that work has already begun on a fifth game in the Yakuza series, known as Ryu Ga Gotoku in Japan, exclusively for the PS3.

Speaking to Famitsu (as reported by Kotaku), the whisky fan, former Edge columnist and genius responsible for Super Monkey Ball said it wouldn't necessarily be Yakuza 4, but definitely wouldn't be a sequel to 2008's historical spin-off, Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan!

He said it would have the essence of the series, but still might be something of departure. "For example, if the main character Kiryu Kazuma went to outer space or fought zombies, I think fans would accept that and say, 'I get it'," Nagoshi said.

"It's not Kenzan 2," he added. "I want to create a new style of game set in contemporary surroundings."

Nagoshi also noted that he would be auditioning members of the public to use in the game's cast. He's particularly looking for females of at least 18 years of age to play nightclub hostesses, apparently. Is he now.

Yakuza 3 has been a big hit in Japan since its release in February, but SEGA has yet to reveal any plans to bring it, or Kenzan for that matter, to the West. Shame on you, SEGA.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The_Inquisitor #1 3 years ago

    Sega should be ashamed!

  • NotSoSlim #2 3 years ago

    No gamers have themselves to blame as the other games sold crap in the West on the PS2 as with 100m consoles so why should they release it?? They probably will eventually but as they made there money back already they really dont have to.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/09 @ 09:08

  • menage #3 3 years ago

    @Notsoslim

    I disagree. Yakuza is obviously a hardcore game, and those gamers aren't really on PS2 anymore. besides that Yakuza 1 was terribly marketed and 2 realesed waaaayyyy to late, I didn't even know it existed here until 2 came out last year here. If they released the PS3 version now instead of over 4 years it will sell I think. But put some marketing behind it.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/09 @ 09:20

  • NotSoSlim #4 3 years ago

    @ menage

    Granted and i see where your cominf from but maybe Sega looked at Valkyria Chronicles and thought why risk it? Yes the game sold eventually but mainly by word of mouth. Sega cannot ignore the previous games sales on a console with a vastly superior market share.

    I could be wrong and maybe they just cannot be bothered lol

  • Evolution #5 3 years ago

    I only heard about Yakuza when I saw the EG review of the second one, and I thought to myself how odd it was that it was a bit late to be bringing out a PS2 game like that with good production values. I bought the first one recently and I've enjoyed it so far, aside from some of the silly voice acting. I'd say I was a reasonably well informed gamer so I was suprised to have missed this one. I do want them to release the third one here though. Do it Sega. Doooo iiiiiit.

  • dudefella #6 3 years ago

    Give.

    Me.

    Yakuza.

    3.

  • menage #7 3 years ago

    @Notsoslim

    I agree VC did terrible, but that's another case of Sega not knowing how to put a game into the market. Why the hell would anyone release a game like thatin November is beyond me. If a game like Dead Sace already get's swamped imagine what it would do with an obscure tactical anime RPG. Sega really is making some awesome games at the moment, shame the public only sees (again, Sega's fault, a company like Capcom knows its market far better, tehy release their hits in February and March for godsake) and buys the crap ones.

    Stupid companies..
    Edited by 2 at 08/05/09 @ 10:13

  • The_Inquisitor #8 3 years ago

    I agree with you there Menage, Sega should stop aiming for the lucrative Christmas top spots (CoD has that sown up). A game of Yakuza's quality, released with decent marketing and whilst many PS3 owners are desperate for somthing new should do well. If they wait 2 years to release it (again), the competition on the platform may well overshadow it once again.

  • spidermanalf #9 3 years ago

    They have even re released an older one!

    But again, only in Japan!

    [link url=http://www.play-asia.com/p aOS-13-71-bp-77-2-49-en-15-Ryu+ga+Gotoku+-70-34qa-43-bm.html
    ]http://ww w.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bp-7...[/link]

    But it is all in Japanese, with no English subtitles, oh and as its Sony, they are not allowed to post it to -

    European Union

    Iceland

    Liechtenstein

    Norway

  • trubadman #10 3 years ago

    No gamers have themselves to blame as the other games sold crap in the West on the PS2 as with 100m consoles so why should they release it?? They probably will eventually but as they made there money back already they really dont have to.

    I must say i disagree, apart from bad marketing/exposure, the major reason that yakuza failed to sell as well in the UK is that it was released in the latter stages of the PS2 life cycle. What normally happens with people who've had a console for 5 years or more, is that they continue playing the games that they have already amassed, but don't buy anything new.

    I wanted to get yakuza, but i wasn't playing my ps2 much then i got my ps3. I think they should release Yakuza 3 here, all they need to do is change menus and subtitle the cut-scenes. Maybe even trophies!!

    Edit: Take for example, god of war 1 & 2 (i know it's not a jap game), they sold, but would have sold much better if released earlier when people were still interested in buying more games.

    Oh yeah, and i do know that some people with PS2's still buy games (espcially things like singstar, fifa etc)
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/09 @ 12:43

  • konnsky #11 3 years ago

    I said it a thousand times before, I'm gonna say it again.
    How much of a cost is to translate the game's script and menus, slap subtitles on, then sell over here, even if there is a limited number of copies?
    SEGA can't loose much on this, and us players get to play it.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/09 @ 12:59

  • Man_s #12 3 years ago

    Apprently they don't see it that way konnsky. All they do see is another rubbish Sonic title...