Yakuza: Like a Dragon To Get Seven Free DLC Packs, First DLC Details Revealed

If you are excited for Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which comes out later this year in America, you probably already know that these games have had free DLC updates since the release of Yakuza 3 and this new game isn’t any different.

While we don’t know the release schedule of these DLC items in the West, we do know the release schedule for the Japanese release (they start releasing tomorrow):

  • January 23, 2020
  • January 30, 2020
  • February 6, 2020
  • February 13, 2020
  • February 20, 2020
  • February 27, 2020

The first pack that SEGA is releasing is called the ‘Support Pack Vol. 1’ which will add a new ‘Cleanup Crew’ costume and the following support items:

Toshihiro Nagoshi talks about why SEGA pulled Judgment sales, no sequel planned

SEGA’s Creative Officer Toshihiro Nagoshi talked more about why he voted to pull Judgment from Japanese store shelves after actor Pierre Taki was arrested on a cocaine charge.

During the latest Sega Nama stream, Nagoshi went more into why he voted to delay the game he worked as a director on:

“There is no correct way to deal with the situation. In the end, I also cast my vote for halting sales. Some thought and pointed out “This is going too far” and “It’s unrelated to the game itself,” and I don’t think those opinions are unreasonable either—I can see it from both sides. So when it comes to why I voted for halting sales, it’s because it was just after release. If it was an older game released a considerable amount of time ago, our priorities may have been different, but when it was something that had been released only several months prior, I think it’s a different conversation.”
He also talked about news outlets discussing that SEGA already had Judgment 2, 3 planned out which he said:

Project Judge being called “Judgment” in the West, coming Summer 2019 and will include an English dub!


Judge Eyes (in Japan) got its official name revealed in the West, the game will be called “Judgment” in America and Europe. We also found out that the game will release in English speaking countries this upcoming summer. Huge news if you are a Yakuza fanatic, like yours truly.

One of the bigger surprises? The new trailer features a English dub. Yup! Check it out. I kinda joked about this game getting a English dub after Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise got one. Nice to have options.

Project Judge’s prosecution team revealed

SEGA’s upcoming Project Judge is set to hit Japanese, Asian and South Korean retail shelves next month, so SEGA is pulling out all the reveals before then. Today SEGA have revealed the game’s prosecution team, which includes Yagami’s (the main game protagonist) former girlfriend Mafuyu Fujii and a couple more main characters that will be vital to the in-game story.

The following was translated for this 4Gamer article by Siliconera.

Yakuza 4 trailer for PS4 releases showing off Masayoshi Tanimura’s changed model in action

We posted the other day that Yakuza 4 would release January 17, 2019 in Japan and that the character Masayoshi Tanimura, one of the four playable characters in Yakuza 4 would have a model and voice changed due to the original actor Hiroki Narimiya retiring from acting (which not might all be his choice). This new trailer shows the new voice and model in action, now being played by Toshiki Masuda.

Not only that, SEGA has also released a ton of screenshots including the box art for the game.

Yakuza 6 sold the same in the West as it did in Japan, a first for the franchise

If you have been a massive Yakuza fan for awhile, you might have noticed that the franchise has been gaining steam since the release of Yakuza 0. My worse fear was that after Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, that those new audiences would either set Yakuza 6 aside for later (after Kiwami 2 and the Yakuza 3-5 ports) or just stop buying the franchise altogether. I can safely say that isn’t the case, thankfully Yakuza 6 seems to have performed well enough that the game sold the same in West as it did in Japan. This is a first for the franchise, not bad for a title that was closing off a long running story.

“In the past, the Japanese market has generated the bulk of sales for these series, and although it has elements that are appealing to overseas. However, the game was not developed with European and U.S. markets in mind. Thanks to painstaking efforts to create a game that Japanese fans will appreciate, the title has become popular not only in Japan but also won over fans overseas who praise the refined game sense of the title. I believe this is why Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has become such a popular hit around the world.” – SEGA’s Kenji Matsubara

This also means that Yakuza 6 Western sales basically includes UK and US against Japan, I hope that in the near future Western audiences outnumber Japanese audiences for Yakuza sales. I mean, we are getting closer. But we might get that considering that a Yakuza 6 PC port is most likely around the corner. We also have learned that Yakuza franchise has sold over 11 million copies world wide.

[Source: SEGA Report]

Judge Eyes extended trailer reveals playable House of the Dead inspired game

SEGA has unleashed the new extended trailers for Judge Eyes (Project JUDGE), one for the story mode and the other for the gameplay. In the gameplay one SEGA showed off a ton of different things you’ll be able to play through, one of the sections was the arcade games that will be included in Project Judge showing off Motor Raid (which we knew was coming already), but they also gave us a glimpse at The House of the Dead play spot (5m28s in). The question now is if that is actually House of the Dead or maybe a made up in-universe mini-game that is influenced by House of the Dead.

So am I going crazy or is this not one of the past House of the Dead games? One of the biggest giveaways is the art style and the UI. The lives used in Judge Eyes is hearts when in The House of the Dead series they use torches. Maybe this miini-game will play like House of the Dead but be its own thing? Maybe it’ll be based on Yakuza: Dead Souls?

 

Yakuza Online Tokyo Game Show 2018 Trailer shows Haruka kicking ass

SEGA is gearing up on releasing Yakuza Online over in Japan, with them already launching pre-registration for the title. Its not surprise that they would use Tokyo Game Show 2018 to hype up the title. Here we have a new trailer showing a dream team up of all our Yakuza heroes and new comer Ichiban, teaming up to promote Yakuza Online.

What do you think of a Yakuza Online mobile game? Would you like to see this game brought over to the Western market?

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise Kazuma Kiryu skin free for early buyers

If you are planning on getting Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise early, SEGA has given you one more reason to do it! If you get the game during its launch window, October 2nd through the 16th, you can download the Kazuma Kiryu DLC skin for free. After that they will most likely charge you for it.

The Dragon of Dojima has made his way to Eden! This skin lets you change appearance to Kiryu at any point by visiting Kenishro’s home in Eden. While using this skin, all of Kenshiro’s battle dialogue, including the series’ iconic Hokuto Shinken callouts, will be voiced by the legendary Fourth Chairman of the Tojo Clan – Kazuma Kiryu.

Fun fact: both Kenshiro and Kiryu share the same Japanese voice actor – Takaya Kuroda!

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise hits PlayStation 4 in America and Europe on October 2nd, with a demo already available to try on the PSN store.

SEGA reveals Tokyo Game Show 2018 line-up


SEGA seems to be going all in at this year’s Tokyo Game Show 2018, what with the announcement of the new IP Project JUDGE (Judge Eyes in Japan), its starting to seem like SEGA finally has a impressive line-up for Japanese fans. But not only that, SEGA is publishing a bunch of Western titles for Japanese audience and some of the games that will have the SEGA logo over there are titles you least expect. It seems that we won’t be getting Sakura Wars information this year, which is a bummer. Check out SEGA’s full Tokyo Game Show 2018 line-up after the jump:

Project JUDGE gets almost an hour long English-dubbed presentation

If you are excited for the next Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios (Yakuza Studio) next game, right now using the working title Project JUDGE (JUDGE EYES in Japan) then you are in luck since there is a long form presentation which features Takuya Kimura, Shosuke Tanihara, Kenichi Takito, Akira Nakao, Alexandros (Japanese rock band), and SEGA’s Toshihiro Nagoshi!  This presentation is dubbed, with a translator for fans to from America to enjoy.

This is possibly one of the more in-depth reveals to a game in a very long time, especially for SEGA. Not only did we get a world wide announcement, but Japan also got a demo on the same day it was revealed and its coming out by the end of 2019 in Asian countries. Yakuza Studio is on fire!

SEGA News Bits: SEGA Survey Asks About Yakuza Kenzan & Ishin Localizations?

With the recent release of Yakuza Kiwami 2, came a brand new survey asking fans what they wanted to see for the future of the franchise. We go over the important questions of the survey on this episode of the SEGA News Bits. What are your thoughts on the possibility of Yakuza Kenzan and Yakuza Ishin making it over to the West? Any other spinoffs that deserve attention?

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Yakuza Online launches in Japan by the end of the year, per-registrations now open

Yakuza Online has finally gotten more details on the official website, including the ability to per-register to play the game early! If you didn’t know Yakuza Online will be a mobile service game that will be free-to-play on iOS, Android and PC. SEGA have also re-confirmed that it will be launching by the end of 2018 in Japan. But would you be interested to play it if it launches in the West?

SEGA wants as many people to per-register and the more people that register the more items users unlock:

  • 10,000 pre-registrations – 100 diamonds
  • 30,000 pre-registrations – One Upgrade Coin (Small), 100 diamonds )for a total of 200)
  • 50,000 pre-registrations – Five Ability Coins, 100 diamonds (for a total of 300)
  • 80,000 pre-registations – Stamina MAX, 100 diamonds (for a total of 400)
  • 100,000 pre-registrations – SSR Haruka Sawamura, 100 diamonds (for a total of 500)

Hit the jump to see more information on what the game will contain

Yakuza Producer says if Harada wants Kazuma Kiryu in Tekken 7, they’re for it

During the Yakuza 6 Live Q&A portion, one of the questions asked if Yakuza 6 is truly the end for our lovable hero or will we see him appear in other games. Once the question ended, everyone in the audience screamed “Tekken!“, which seems something that fans want to happen. I even wrote a whole article about why Kazuma Kiryu would be perfect for Tekken 7 (take notes, Namco). Yakuza Producer, Daisuke Sato took to answering the question:

“What it comes down to the whole Tekken thing, if Harada-san says he wants to use Kiryu, well then there it is.”  – Daisuke Sato, Yakuza Producer

But lets be honest, SEGA is obviously saving this big Kazuma Kiryu fighting game crossover for Virtua Fighter 6, right guys?