Yakuza Team

Yakuza 5 going free for PlayStation Plus users in August

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Didn’t pick up Yakuza 5 when it launched late last year? Well, you might be in luck since Yakuza 5 is will be a free PlayStation Plus game for August. That means that the game will be free to download and play, as long as you are subscribed to PlayStation Plus. If you cancel PlayStation Plus, you will no longer have access to Yakuza 5.

But Yakuza 5 isn’t the only game going free in August, so are the following games:

  • Tricky Towers (PS4)
  • Rebel Galaxy (PS4)
  • Retro/Grade (PS3)
  • Patapon 3 (PS Vita)
  • Ultratron (PS Vita, PS3, PS4)

If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you will know that I’m a huge fan of the Yakuza series and I even did a Yakuza 5 review which was mostly nothing but praise for the game. While I rather have people buy the full game when it was out, if you haven’t tried it I would highly suggest giving this a spin. If you like it, make sure to pre-order Yakuza 0 which is set to launch Januray 24, 2017. If we want SEGA to bring more Japanese focused games West, we have to start supporting these type of titles!

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Yakuza 6 getting big reveal event in Japan on July 26

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Yakuza6-119If you are looking forward to Yakuza 6, you might want to mark July 26th on your calander since SEGA will be having a huge event hosted at UDX Theater in Akihabara, Tokyo. The event will be held for press but will have 66 Yakuza 6 fans attending (since they won a raffle).

These are some of the Yakuza 6 announcements expected at the event:

  • New Yakuza 6 footage focusing on exciting drama scenes
  • New Yakuza 6 cast of actors and actresses
  • New Yakuza 6 settings announced
  • Yakuza 6 announcement to be announced (wow, inception)

There will also be a autograph session to close out the event which will be from 1:00pm to 1:45pm JST. Yakuza 6 is expected to hit Japanese stores this fall while the West is set to get Yakuza 0 early 2017. Yes, it sucks being behind the Japanese releases.

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

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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]

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Yakuza: Kiwami has shipped over 200,000 copies in Asia

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The remake for Yakuza 1 is already off to a great start with SEGA confirming that Yakuza: Kiwami has received orders of 200,000 copies in “Asia” (China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) and in the same report they also confirmed Yakuza 0 has sold through over 100,000 units. It’s an impressive result for the game and shows why SEGA were so convinced to try and grow the series in mainland Asia. Yakuza: Kiwami is the first time the series has received a simultaneous Japanese and Asian release which should help offset declining Japanese software sales with increasing Asian sales.

Come back tomorrow to find out how Yakuza: Kiwami will be doing in it’s home territory of Japan when the latest Media Create charts are released.

[Source: GNN.Gamer]

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Yakuza Kiwami first print copies to come with Yakuza 6 demo

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Yakuza6demoFor those that are importing Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of Yakuza 1, the game will come with a product code to download a trail demo of Yakuza 6 on January 28th. The demo will allow you to play as protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and explore Kamurocho on the new gameplay engine that was teased back in December of last year.

The thing is Yakuza Kiwami is coming out on both Playstation 3 and Playstation 4, so I’m unsure if both versions come with the code for the demo, seeing as Yakuza 6 is Playstation 4 exclusive. Yakuza Kiwami is set to release on January 21st while Yakuza 6 is slated for later this fall.

[Via: SEGA]

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Yakuza Kiwami Limited Edition Japanese PlayStation 4 model revealed

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YakuzaKiwamiPS4The Yakuza series isn’t particularly new to getting limited edition models of PlayStation consoles, so its no surprise that Sony has announced the Limited Edition Yakuza Kiwami model for Japan. I’m not a big fan of the Playstation 4 limited edition consoles because it just seems like they put a decal on the HDD bay cover and call it a day. But if you gotta have it, it will run you 36,980 yen (about $314) plus tax. What does the package include?

  • 500GB PlayStation 4 model (Jet Black/Glacier White) x1
  • Wireless Controller (DualShock 4) x1
  • Yakuza Kiwami PS4 HDD Bay Cover x1
  • Monoaural Headset x1
  • Power Cord x1
  • HDMI Cable x1
  • USB Cable x1

What about the game? Sorry, the bundle does not include the game and you will have to purchase that separate. This is basically a Playstation 4 with a Yakuza Kiwami themed decal. Worth the price? That’s up to you.

[Via: Siliconera]

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Yakuza: Kiwami gets high marks from Famitsu

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YakuzaKiwamiThe latest issue of Famitsu is out in Japan that means we get to see the latest review scores from Japanese games we won’t see in the West for quite awhile. This week’s big releases include SEGA’s remake of Yakuza 1, being titled Yakuza: Kiwami in Japan.

Here are all the scores in the recent issue of Famitsu:

  • Dasshu Adventure: Kami Kudashi no Uranai Sara (3DS) – 7/7/8/8 [30/40]
  • Drop Zone Under Fire (3DS) – 6/7/6/5 [24/40]
  • Fast Racing Neo (Wii U) – 7/7/7/9 [30/40]
  • Hyrule Warriors Legends (3DS) – 9/9/8/10 – [36/40]
  • Just Cause 3 (PS4) – 8/8/9/8 [33/40]
  • Just Cause 3 (XBO) – 8/8/9/8 [33/40]
  • Seisen Chronicle (3DS) – 7/7/8/7 [29/40]
  • Yakuza: Kiwami (PS4) – 8/9/9/8 [34/40]
  • Yakuza: Kiwami (PS3) – 8/9/9/8 [34/40]

The way that Famitsu reviews work is that four people write a short review and give it a score in the end, those scores are added up in the end. Yakuza: Kiwami was the second highest rated game, losing by two points to Hyrule Warriors Legends on Nintendo 3DS.

[Via: Gematsu]

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Yakuza 0 won’t hit North America till 2017 says Playstation.com

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Seems that SEGA likes to be really abstract on these Yakuza localization release dates. Not only was Yakuza 5 suppose to release in November, then barely made it in late December but Yakuza 0 seems that it is being aimed for 2017. That would mean by the time it gets here the game would be 2 years old, Yakuza 1 remaster and Yakuza 6 would already be out in Japan. What a vicious cycle of playing catch up for American fans.

Awhile back SEGA released a trailer stating that the game was coming out for both Americans and Europeans, but now SEGA has stated that they have no plans yet for a European release.

What do you guys think? Is waiting till 2017 for a localization of Yakuza 0 too long? Could it be that Sony is using 2017 as a place holder instead of ‘TBA’?

[Via: Playstation LifeStyle]

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Yakuza: Kiwami 8-minute story trailer brings nostalgic memories

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Hard to believe that the Yakuza franchise is already celebrating its 10th year anniversary. It feels like just yesterday I eagerly awaited the first title to be released on the Playstation 2 and now we are here almost 10 years later looking at a trailer for the upcoming Playstation 4 and Playstation 3 remake.

SEGA plans to release the remake in Japan on January 21st, this release is set to feature additional and even updated scenes, new and update systems, new battle styles and new mini-games like “Insect Queen Female King”. Oh, did I mention you get the ability to fight Majima anywhere? No western release has been announced for this title yet, but we just got Yakuza 5 (go buy it!) and SEGA recently revealed they are bringing Yakuza 0 over.

Fun fact, Yakuza: Kiwami in Japan will come with a code with a demo of Yakuza 6.

[Via: Gematsu]

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Yakuza 5 screens shows off side-activities and play spots

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Yakuza-5_2015_10-30-15_015SEGA’s Yakuza series has been well known for its side-activities and play spots sprinkled throughout the game.  But no game takes it further than Yakuza 5!

The game has activities like rhythm dancing, hunting bears, drinking, gambling, trying to get SEGA swag from a UFO catcher, playing Taiko Drum Master in arcades, and even driving taxis! So much to do, so little time.

Check out the screenshots after the jump. Yakuza 5 will hit PSN in Europe and North America sometime this month.

[Via: Gemastu]

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These are Yakuza 5’s fab five protagonists

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Yakuza5promoTry to say the title of this article five times fast in a Japanese accent! SEGA has released the following recap for Yakuza gamers that have waited too long for Yakuza 5 to actually release in the West. How long has it been? Three years? No problem, SEGA has you covered with their latest recap, so you don’t miss a beat.

Troubling is that SEGA still has no concrete release date, which is odd considering how close November is (a little over a week away). Lets look at the five characters you’ll play as after the break.

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SEGA reveals Tokyo Game Show 2015 lineup – we may know what game the Yakuza team is working on!

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SEGA’s Tokyo Game Show site opens today, offering fans a glimpse at what the company will have on display. While we’ve known what plenty of the games will be for a while, there were a few surprises that SEGA have tried to keep a secret. Thankfully, Gematsu dug around in the site’s source code and found mention of two unannounced games! The code has since been removed, but thankfully Gematsu saved the info.

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Yakuza creator talks about the future of the Japanese games industry

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The current issue of Famitsu Weekly held a discussion on the future of the Japanese games industry with the top tier developers from Japan. This post will mostly cover what Toshihiro Nagoshi (Daytona USA, Super Monkey Ball and Yakuza) said (cuz, you know, we are a SEGA news site).

Famitsu also interviewed Toeishi Ashihara (Cygames), Hideki Kamiya (Platinum Games), Yoshinori Kitase (Square-Enix), Akihiro Suzuki (Koei-Tecmo), Yosuke Hayashi (Koei-Tecmo), Katsuhiro Harada (Bandai-Namco), and Hiroshi Matsuyama (CyberConnect2). If you want to read their replies check out Nichegamer’s article on the the whole thing. Check out Nagoshi’s responses after the jump.

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Yakuza creator confirms that his new game will be shown at Tokyo Game Show

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I know that some of the more hardcore SEGA fans are a bit upset that SEGA recently teased a new Hatsune Miku game. No fear SEGA fans, because during today’s NicoNico Live steam, Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball creator Toshihiro Nagoshi teased what to expect from Sega and his team next month:

“I’m so anxious for Tokyo Game Show! Although I’m not allowed to say why I’m feeling this way, yet. We’ll announce [a new title] at Tokyo Game Show, and it’ll be a good one and I believe that Sega’s live showing at Tokyo Game Show will be the most exciting one we’ve seen in a while.” – Toshihiro Nagoshi

The producer for Yakuza, Yokoyama Masayoshi teased this game in July stating that the studio was hiring new talent. As of right now, Yakuza Team (aka Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio) has over 150 workers under the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio banner. Considering that they are hiring more, this might be one of SEGA’s biggest games ever. I guess we will find out more next month at the Tokyo Game Show, but as far as them teasing it, it seems this title will not be related to the Yakuza IP.

Like always, in Nagoshi we trust.

[Source: Silioncera]

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Yakuza 5 developer interview part 2: Hostess Clubs and more

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Just over a month later, we get the second of three developer interviews where Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and Yakuza 5 producer Masayoshi Yokoyama are asked questions by Playstation’s Gio Corsi. In this interview the people behind SEGA’s gangster brawler are asked about what inspired the hostess clubs in the game and how they came about to design the series protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, amongst other questions. It’s been a long time coming, but it seems almost surreal we live in a world where Yakuza 5 has finally be localised and Shenmue 3 has been kickstarter, what a time to be alive.

With only one more interview left, let’s hope that we’ll hear a solid release date soon. Yakuza 5 is set to launch for the Playstation 3 this fall, get ready to crack some skulls and manage some idols.

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