Yakuza 6: The Song of Life mini-games trailer reminds us that Virtua Fighter 5 is coming soon to PlayStation 4

The Yakuza 6: The Song of Life mini-games trailer has hit, and as expected they are packing a TON of side content into the latest title in the franchise. Everything to batting cage, darts and karaoke to undersea spearfishing, baseball management sims and playable SEGA arcade games including the likes of Hang-On, Space Harrier, Puyo Puyo and Virtua Fighter 5. The latter of which sold as its own game for the PS3 and Xbox 360 over ten years ago, and is now essentially a bonus game.

You can pre-order the Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Essence of Art Edition for the PlayStation 4, and act quickly as SEGA tells us they are just about sold out! The package features the game and a collectible hardcover art book.

SEGA News Bits: What to expect from SEGA in 2018

On this episode of the SEGA News Bits, we say goodbye to 2017 and start discussing what SEGA has in store for 2018. Join us as we discuss all the major releases from SEGA, SEGA related games not published by SEGA and what surprise announcements we think SEGA has for us next year. So sit back, listen in and let us know what SEGA title you are looking forward to the most in 2018!

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Yakuza 6: The Song of Life western cover art revealed

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Via the PlayStation Blog comes our first look at the cover art for the upcoming Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. The blog entry covers the localization process, and is well worth reading. Topics covered include a bar conversation mini-game, balancing comedy and drama, and comforting a baby.

The blog entry concludes with a look at the “Essence of Art Edition”, the new name for the launch edition, which features cover art that calls back to the original PS2 game. You can pre-order the “Essence of Art Edition” here.

SEGA News Bits: Yakuza 6 Launch Day & Premium Editions Revealed

SEGA has recently revealed the Yakuza 6 Launch Day and Premium Edition versions, with a release date of March 20, 2018! On this episode of the SEGA News Bits we discuss the two editions, what you get and our thoughts on SEGA doing more of these big physical releases. Its no surprise that we are big SEGA fans and love these sort of premium edition releases, so you can hear us gush over the news for about 6 minutes. Are you getting Yakuza 6? Which version?

Yakuza 6 Launch Day Pre-OrderYakuza 6 Premium Edition Pre-Order

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Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life Gameplay Trailer released, pre-orders now open

SEGA has released a new trailer showing off various aspects of Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life gameplay. Take a look at how cutscenes will play out, epic in-game brawls, menu systems and mini games.

In Yakuza 6, Kazuma Kiryu will find out exactly how much people are willing to sacrifice for family – be those ties through blood or bond – when he investigates a series of shadowy events that involve the ones he holds closest to his heart. Fresh out of a three-year prison sentence, an older and weathered Kiryu comes to find out that his surrogate daughter, Haruka, has gone missing from the orphanage he looks after. The trail leads him to his old stomping grounds in Kamurocho, where he discovers that she has been struck by a car and now lies in a coma. To make matters worse, Kiryu learns that Haruka now has a son that he must look after. With baby in hand, Kiryu journeys to the seaside town of Onomichi, Hiroshima to unravel the truth about Haruka, her son, and a sinister secret that the Hiroshima yakuza are harboring.

Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life is now available to pre-order in two impressive launch editions. The Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life After hours Premium Edition comes with an art book, two drinking glasses, whiskey cubes, coasters and a collector’s box for $89.99. The Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Standard Edition, meanwhile, comes with an abridged art book which doubles as the game case and sells for $59.99. Both are available to pre-order now and release March 20, 2018.

SEGA announces Yakuza 6 release date and premium edition

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SEGA has confirmed that Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will launch both digitally and physically in the Americas and Europe on March 20, 2018. SEGA has also priced the game at $59.99. Nothing surprising there. But SEGA did confirm that people that pre-order get a launch copy that includes a hardcover art book that doubles as a disc holder. Pretty neat.

SEGA to show off new Yakuza game in two months

1446300098252While we won’t be getting Yakukza 6 until sometime in early 2018, SEGA Japan is already set to tease a new Yakuza game. While on a stream, long time Yakuza producer Toshihiro Nagoshi said that they will show ‘something’ relating to the new Yakuza game, he also mentioned that we will have to wait about two months for information regarding the new game. He also thinks people will be happy with what the game will be about. I guess we will find out where the new Yakuza game is heading, seeing that Yakuza 6 is Kazuma Kiryu’s last game.

It is quite obvious that this new Yakuza game will be SEGA’s big game at this years Tokyo Game Show and now we know that SEGA will start the teasing it in two months. So what direction do you guys want to see the new Yakuza game take? Are you excited for another go into the Yakuza world? Let us know in the comments below.

[Source: Siliconera]

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.

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.

If you enjoy our interviews 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.

E3 2017: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life trailer

Releasing early 2018 to PlayStation 4 and playable at SEGA’s E3 booth, the much anticipated Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has an official E3 trailer!

Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima (and the main protagonist of SEGA’s long-running Yakuza franchise) will find out exactly how much people are willing to sacrifice for family – be those ties through blood or bond – when Yakuza 6: The Song of Life releases in the West. The game is coming to consoles only on PlayStation 4, and thanks to the new “Dragon Engine,” is the most advanced Yakuza title to date. From the unparalleled realism of the new setting of Onomichi, a beautiful, sleepy port town in Hiroshima Prefecture, to the latest evolution of Kamurocho, the biggest red light district in Tokyo, Yakuza 6 is the ultimate iteration the game’s blend of gritty crime story, hyper-explosive combat, and all the vices and distractions those locales have to offer. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be localized by SEGA and published in the Americas and Europe in physical and digital formats in early 2018.

SEGAbits is attending E3 2017, so be on the lookout for our impressions on the game soon!

SEGA plans “revival of major IPs” on its “Road to 2020”

Sonic___SEGA_All-Stars_Racing-PCArtwork4539Sonic_Racing_GroupSEGA plans “revival of major IPs”, which is a phrase that a lot of SEGA die hard fans have been waiting to hear from the company in a very long time. SEGA revealed this strategy when the company did their “Road to 2020” business presentation. If you look at the ‘Segment / Business Strategies’ on their latest fiscal report, it highlights the following big points:

Packaged Games Field (example titles: Total War: Warhammer, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, Football Manager 2017, and Persona 5)

  • Expand existing IPs and obtain new IPs for North American and European PC games
  • Build revenue base by being entrusted with outsourced development
  • Challenge for new IPs
  • Revival of major IPs
  • Effective utilization of development engines

Digital Games Field (example titles: Puyo Puyo!! Quest, Hortensia Saga, Chain Chronicle 3, and Phantasy Star Online 2)

  • Create titles that will become global hits
  • Establish digital marketing business
  • Expand overseas publishing business
  • Maintain profits through long-term operation of existing titles
  • Develop next-generation titles

If you notice, they have a nice section where they highlight that they are planning not only original IPs but also SEGA plans “revival of major IPs”. But what would SEGA consider a “major IP”? One of the challenges SEGA has with reviving IPs is that they want them to be ‘global hits’, so what titles do you think are considered ‘global hits’? SEGA plans “revival of major IPs”, do you believe it or is it a ‘wait and see’ sort of thing?

[via: Gematsu]

Round Table: Should the Yakuza franchise end after Yakuza 6?

RoundTableYakuza6The Yakuza franchise has been the longest running new franchise launched by SEGA since going 3rd party, with the first one being released in Japan back on December 8, 2005. The franchise has received seven main entries, one remake, a bunch of spin-offs, and even a full featured length film. SEGA has made a huge deal about the franchise coming to an end, in the past, but seem to have continued churning out games. Yakuza 6 promises to be the end of Kazuma Kiryu’s story while at the same time SEGA has promised that the franchise would continue after Yakuza 6. On this week’s Round Table we ask should the Yakuza franchise end after Yakuza 6?

Why Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu should be in Tekken 7

Tekken7KazumaIf you didn’t know, the upcoming Tekken 7 has teased that they would be delivering two guest characters in the next couple of years after the game launches. Back in April, Tekken 7‘s loud mouth game director and producer Katsuhiro ‘Don’t Ask For Shit’ Harada tweeted to ask people suggestions for guest characters, suggestions went from  Goku to Bayonetta. But who was the most requested? Yakuza‘s Kazuma Kiryu was the most fan requested DLC guest character. I never thought about it prior to this tweet but I think Kazuma Kiryu would fit right into Tekken 7 and if anything, would benefit both companies by promoting each others brands.

SEGA Japanese developers talk Nintendo Switch

SEGADevelopersSwitchSeeing as we are big SEGA fanboys, it is safe to say we care about what their developers think about a upcoming console. This month on Famitsu, SEGA Japanese developers talk Nintendo Switch and their thoughts on the big reveal presentation. The original news piece, posted by Nintendo Everything, also had other top Japanese developers. So check that out if you want to learn what other top Japanese talent from other publishing companies thought about the Nintendo Switch. So what SEGA Japanese developers talk Nintendo Switch? We have Takashi Iizuka (Sonic the Hedgehog series), Toshihiro Nagoshi (Yakuza series) and Mizuki Hosoyamada (Puyo Puyo series).