SEGA News Bits: Yakuza 6 & Kiwami E3 2017 Hands On Impressions

Welcome to a new episode of the SEGA News Bits, our YouTube show where we discuss all things SEGA News as they hit. This last week we have been posting our E3 2017 hands on impressions for both Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania, this time we are doing our Yakuza 6 & Kiwami E3 2017 hands on impressions! So give it a listen as SEGAbits staff writers Kori-Maru and Bartman3010 give you the low down on the upcoming remake, the new graphics engine in Yakuza 6, extras found in Yakuza Kiwami, and the overall perception of these games at the event.  So tune in and listen to our Yakuza 6 & Kiwami E3 2017 Hands On Impressions and if you guys have any questions regarding the upcoming Yakuza games, you can ask them in the comments. Now that you have seen our Yakuza 6 & Kiwami E3 2017 Hands On Impressions, what are your impressions of these games so far?

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us: Give us a sub and give this video a like so it shows up on more like minded fans YouTube recommendations. You know, how that new YouTube algorithm is. Thanks for the support. If you want to read our full Yakuza 6 & Yakuza Kiwami E3 2017 hands on impressions in written format, check that out here.

SEGA says ‘Yakuza’ and ‘Persona’ added to their SEGA PC Ports list

SEGAPCPorts
SEGA had a pretty good start this year releasing the widely acclaimed titlesYakuza 0 which saw a brand new audience in the west and Persona 5, which happens to be the best selling entry in the franchise. One thing both these titles share is that they are Sony exclusive titles, so if you don’t own a Sony PlayStation 3 or 4, you won’t be able to experience the goodness that is Yakuza 0 or Persona 5. Seeing that SEGA Europe has been very kind to their SEGA PC ports list in the last few months, by having Platinum Games port over both Bayonetta and Vanquish to PC platforms. The guys over at PC gamer asked SEGA Europe’s senior vice president of commercial publishing, John Clark, what they are looking into porting over to the good old steam store:

“If I asked you to write me a list of ten games you want Sega to bring out on PC, it probably isn’t any different from the list [we have], I could ask anyone at Sega: write me a list. And what motivates it? I think there’s a certain catalogue that people just have an affinity with. If you send [your] list over I’ll tell you which ones we can tick, which ones are on our list, which ones are possibilities, which ones are not possibilities, which ones we’ve talked about, which ones we’re talking about, which ones we’re working on, you know, they’ll be on that list.”  

Since Mr. Clark didn’t go into specifics, PC Gamer pressed him and asked if a franchise like Yakuza would fit their type of list.

SEGAbits at E3 2017 Interview: Sam Mullen – Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza 6

Our E3 coverage continues with an interview with Sam Mullen, Senior Localization Producer of SEGA products at Atlus U.S.A., who has worked on Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. We talk to Sam about these upcoming games in the Yakuza series and what both longtime fans and newcomers can expect.

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Yakuza Kiwami Steelbook Edition and release date announced

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For those that have been waiting for Yakuza Kiwami information since its western announcement, we finally know when it will release and for what price! For a limited time, people can order a special Steelbook Edition for the game, at a surprisingly low price of $30. The game will be released on August 29th, 2017 in both American and European countries, and is readily available for pre-order on Amazon.

For those that are not informed, Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of Yakuza originally released in 2005 in Japan and 2006 in other regions for the Playstation 2. This remake was built from the ground up, containing the base game but with updates such as having 1080p and 60FPS support and a reworked script, along with a new “Majima Everywhere” system. If you haven’t picked up Yakuza 0, then Yakuza Kiwami is also another fine point to start out with the Yakuza series.

[Source: SEGA]

Amazon Pre-Order
Yakuza Kiwami Steelbook | Yakuza Kiwami Standard

SEGA News Bits: What to expect from SEGA in 2017

On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we see a end to 2016 and get ready for another year full of SEGA games. Well, at least SEGA in 2017 will be having bigger titles than they had this year. We discuss all the games that SEGA have officially confirmed for 2017, discuss the SEGA games we are looking forward to and even throw some predictions for announcements that might be made by SEGA in 2017. So listen in and tell us what titles you are looking forward to, what are some predictions about SEGA in 2017 you have and what you wish was announced for next year in the comments below!

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SEGA News Bits: Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 6 Are Coming West Reaction

SEGA punched us square in the jaw with a reveal at the Playstation Experience event that both Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza 6 will be coming in the summer of 2017 and early 2018 respectively to the Playstation 4. Combined with the fact that Yakuza 0 is due out just next month, we think it is safe to say that Yakuza is back, baby! On this SEGA News Bits, George and Barry react to the news and share their thoughts on both the past and the future of the series. New to Yakuza? Learn just where to start and what games to check out. In the comments below, tell us your thoughts on the news!

If you enjoy our SEGA News Bits segments and want to support us. Give us a sub, if you are already subscribed you can always like the video.

Yakuza Kiwami will get a completely fresh translation

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It was recently announced that Yakuza Kiwami would be localized and released in the West next Summer in between the release of Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 6. Now, if you’re anything like me, you probably imagined that Sega and their localization partners at Atlus would lean heavily on the original Yakuza‘s 2006 script to finish the game in as swiftly and budget-friendly as possible. Evidently, that’s not so!

Atlus USA Producer Sam Mullen recently responded to fan questions on Twitter concerning the Western release of Yakuza Kiwami and had some surprising news!

With Sega committing to releasing three Yakuza titles in the West in roughly about a year’s time, things are looking up for fans of the franchise. Yakuza Kiwami goes above and beyond in remaking the game, giving it not only a stunning 1080p/60FPS facelift, but using the Yakuza 0 engine as a basis for providing a vastly improved playing experience. All of the original Japanese voices were also recorded again and there’s a ridiculously fun and stupid Majima Everywhere system added in along with so much more.

Yakuza Kiwami is slated for a Summer 2017 release on the PS4 in America and Europe. Don’t forget, Yakuza 0 launches on January 24th, 2017 for both regions as well. Be sure to pre-order both to show Sega you’re thankful for this stunning commitment to the series’ fans in the West!

Yakuza 6 and Yakuza Kiwami are coming West

We did it folks, we whined about Yakuza games not coming west so much in the last decade that SEGA finally has 3 unreleased Yakuza games coming to English regions. SEGA announced at the PlayStation Experience event that Yakuza 6 and Yakuza Kiwami are coming West. What does this mean? That means we have Yakuza 0, a prequel will be coming in January 2017 with the remake of the first game (Yakuza Kiwami) coming in summer 2017 and Yakuza 6 will tie it up with a early 2018 release date. Never thought i’d say this, but its pretty good being a Yakuza fan right now. I have been following the series since the first game came out in Japan and always supported the franchise when I could.

Yakuza 6 and Yakuza Kiwami are coming west, let that sink into your head. Yeah, I seriously can’t believe. it. Support the titles by giving them a pre-order and saying nice things to SEGA via their social media. After multiple titles bombed, they are still listening to fans. Who will be picking up a copy? Are you excited? let us know in the comments below!

SEGA in the Charts: Media Create Feb 08 – Feb 14, 2016

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This week saw two major releases from SEGA hitting the Japanese charts in the form of Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final and Valkyria Chronicles Remastered. With no major competition this week and with Yakuza: Kiwami still fresh in the charts, SEGA had a real chance of being the top publisher in the top 20 this week with the closet rival being Square and their Dragon Quest Builders title. Hit the jump after to read how the sequel to Shin Megami Tensei IV did and if SEGA managed to take the top spot in publisher marketshare.

Yakuza Kiwami’s Valentine’s Day Promo Event

Yakuza Kiwami came out at the end of last month, that doesn’t mean SEGA of Japan is done promoting. Above is a promotional event SEGA did with PlayStation to promote the game on Valentine’s Day. What it seems like to me is that the people had to walk a sort of red carpet as grown men dressed up like Yakuza bow as they walked. A scene that is straight out of Yakuza Kiwami. Their prize? I would assume a copy of the game.

So far Yakuza Kiwami hasn’t gotten a release date outside of Japan, where its available for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Yakuza Kiwami  has moved over 200,000 units in its first two weeks on sale, so the game seems to be doing fine.

Yakuza: Kiwami has sold over 200k units in two weeks

YakuzaKiwami-2.jpgNew Media Create sales show that Yakuza: Kiwami has sold over 200,000 units, in (less) than two weeks. The newest chart shows sales ending in January 31st, placing the game at number six (PS4) and eight (PS3) place. Its a slight drop off from number one and two spots it took on its debut week. Sure the game didn’t move as many copies as a brand new Yakuza entry, but Yakuza: Kiwami is a remake of Yakuza 1 and 200,000 units at full price is pretty good for a Japanese title. This is obviously counting both Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 platforms.

This is a big step up from how Yakuza 1&2 HD Edition performed back in 2012, which did under 100,000 units in its first two weeks on both PlayStation 3 and Wii U.  While these sales are only for Japan, we already know that other Asian markets have gotten a shipment of an additional 200,000 copies but don’t know how many where sold to consumers. This is also the first time for the franchise that a PlayStation 4 version sold better than on PlayStation 3.

To check how it ranks up on its debut week with all the other Yakuza games, hit the jump.

[Source: NeoGAF]

Yakuza 6 full demo playthrough now available for your viewing pleasure

People who bought Yakuza: Kiwami were given demo codes for Yakuza 6 and sure enough one of those lucky fans have uploaded a playthrough for the up and coming Kazuma Kiryu simulator. In it we can see a whole host of new features added to the series and it seems that loading of any kind has been done away with. Yakuza 6 is stated for a Fall 2016 release exclusive on Playstation 4 in Japan.