Yakuza News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the longstanding Like a Dragon franchise, has expressed interest in remaking Yakuza 3, the franchise's third mainline entry that originally released in 2009. The studio had previously remade the first two games of Sega's celebrated Yakuza series, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Ever since, fans have been eager for confirmation of a potential Yakuza 3 remake.

The most recent games from the long-running Like a Dragon franchise, including Infinite Wealth, are discounted on Steam for a week. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was released back in January to critical acclaim. Many fans praise it as one of the franchise's best entries, with its incredible writing and characters, new setting of Hawaii, and updated turn-based combat system. It's also the largest game in the franchise by far, as Infinite Wealth is jam-packed with tons of side activities across multiple different locations.

The development studio behind the storied Like a Dragon franchise has urged fans to tune in on April 1 for a special announcement. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth released back in January to critical acclaim. Joining franchise icon Kazuma Kiryu and upbeat newcomer Ichiban Kasuga, Infinite Wealth is the largest entry in the series yet, boasting new adventures in Hawaii and Japan, and introducing several fresh faces to the already large web of characters.

Substories contribute a lot to . A series staple since the very first game, "" are what calls side quests. They may be brief, one-off encounters with strangers, or game-length struggles against recurring enemies. Whatever each one happens to be, as a whole, they're a big part of each game's character. Substories introduce some of 's wackiest characters, strangest mechanics, and weirdest scenarios.

Food plays an important role in . It's Ichiban and his adventuring party's primary mode of healing, with different dishes restoring different amounts of HP and MP. Food typically comes from one of three sources: it's purchased as take-out from fast food windows and convenience stores, cooked up fresh at a bar, or ordered for table service at a restaurant. Of the three, restaurant food is the most varied, effective, and beneficial, as it comes with special bonuses. Particular combinations of courses, called Combo Meals, might provoke extra buffs or unique dialogue scenes with Ichiban's companions.

Honk-Honk NPCs are scattered all across map locations of Hawaii and Japan in and trade character buffs for money. Inspired by Puff-Puff side quests from the series, tracking down these people can make you stronger. However, it can be hard to find some Honk-Honk characters since they spawn randomly on your map.

has a New Game Plus mode, but not all progress is transferred into it. New Game Plus is a common feature in RPGs with level-based progression. It allows players who have beaten the game to restart it, maintaining some of their progress. NG+ can include extra content, new difficulty levels, or, at the very least, an opportunity to make different story and character choices. In short, it's a way to keep repeat playthroughs fresh, and has been a staple in the series for quite some time.

Kuwaki is the first boss of and he serves as a tutorial challenge to ensure that you understand the fundamentals of battle. Trying to fight him head on can be dangerous, but use of various combat systems can make him manageable.

Dondoko Island is a significant part of 's appeal, but how and when the experience can be accessed in-game isn't immediately obvious. The series, formerly published as in the west, has long been known for featuring memorable and unique side content and mini-games to accompany its more dramatic main stories. promises an even longer and more robust experience than any of the past games have ever delivered, and Dondoko Island might be the selling point that jumps out the most.

continues the saga of Ichiban Kasuga, heading up his second installment in the series formerly known as. Following up on Ichiban's introduction in and original series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu's brilliant reintroduction in , focuses on the dual heroes as they travel to Honolulu separately, but on the same mission: to find Ichiban's long-lost mother, Akane. The two eventually meet up and combine their efforts, discovering much more than they bargained for as they near the center of a seedy plot.

can make up for the worst combat sin committed by its predecessor — and no, it's not the turn-based combat. The previous game in the series,, served as a soft reboot for the long-running RPG franchise. It transitioned from the original English series title,, to a direct translation of its Japanese title,. It introduced a new protagonist, the shaggy-haired, -loving Ichiban Kasuga. And, perhaps most divisively, it replaced the series' classic brawler combat with a turn-based system, heavily inspired by RPGs of yore.

Sega confirmed that the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's New Game Plus feature is only available through a DLC paywall, upsetting fans. There is a lot of anticipation behind the upcoming eighth mainline Like a Dragon game, as it features both Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu sharing the spotlight. It's also teasing how it will be the final chapter of Kiryu's story, such as with older characters and story threads from Kiryu's past being brought to the forefront. Despite the excitement behind this Hawaii-trotting adventure, one thing that had garnered controversy before Infinite Wealth's launch is its New Game Plus feature.

In , Kazama Kiryu returns with many new abilities to unlock that best reflect his first steps in this chapter of his life. Whether it is additional attack combos from a fighting stance to powerful finishers, you have many skills to choose from. Several traits you may choose to upgrade affect Kiryu's combat prowess and his interactions with the world.

Kiryu needs to find Gold Balls hidden throughout Sotenbori and Castle to unlock an achievement and the opportunity to receive a monetary reward in . However, this side quest can quickly turn into a wild goose chase with little to no hints and soak up too much of your time.

Network quests given by the character Akame in make up the bulk of the game's side content, giving you optional missions at different locations to earn some rewards. From finding certain items to meeting new faces, these quests show the human depth behind the cities you explore as Kazama Kiryu. Be prepared for plenty of fights and strange encounters.

Kazama Kiryu returns in with various gadgets that you can get that best reflect his new fighting style. Four high-tech options change fights drastically, from wires that grapple enemies to rocket shoes that shoot you forward. When used in tandem with Kiryu's traditional close-range strikes, each gadget brings its edge to every battle.

Kei is just one of five cabaret club hostesses you can romance in. If you are walking down E. Shofukucho St in the game and find your way into Club Heavenly, you will have the opportunity to speak with and meet Kei. Even better, you can actually romance Kei, which will unlock a special cutscene with her if you play your cards correctly.

Here are the games leaving PlayStation Plus in October 2023. Next month will the PS Plus library take a considerable hit with 16 games leaving, shortly after Sony announced a major price hike for their subscription-based service. Two major franchises are pulling fan-favourite titles, with a pair of recent horror hits also being untimely removed just before Halloween.

Microsoft has dropped a huge bombshell on Tokyo Game Show for Yakuza / Like A Dragon fans.

Sega’s next game in the Like A Dragon franchise, formerly known in the West as Yakuza, is coming in January. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth sends the franchise to Hawaii, where protagonist Ichiban Kasuga travels in search of his mother, only to wind up penniless and at rock bottom. Former Yakuza hero Kazuma Kiryu is also playable in Infinite Wealth, and based on Sega’s first gameplay trailer for the next Like A Dragon game, everything the duo will do is beyond ridiculous.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s next-gen version enjoyed a puzzling period of exclusivity on Xbox Series X and S back in 2020 that was never properly explained — until now.

When Yakuza: Like a Dragon released in 2020, there was an odd situation where the PS5 version released four months after the Xbox Series X/S version, with no explanations given.

NetEase's Toshihiro Nagoshi, who served as producer on 2003's F-Zero GX, has said he'd be open to working on the series once again.

Yakuza / Like a Dragon creator Toshihiro Nagoshi says there’s a “high possibility” his next game will use western actors.

Yakuza fans will probably already know that series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi left Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios back in 2021, leaving behind the franchise to set up Nagoshi Studio and work on a brand new title backed by NetEase. There's very little we know about Nagoshi's upcoming title, but some were worried that it may not be a fully fledged console release due tsince the majority of NetEase's portfolio is made up of mobile titles and MMOs.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is scheduled to release later this year, bringing series legend Kazuma Kiryu back into the fold after a brief absence, albeit under a different name. Kiryu coming back will no doubt bring joy to many fans, but while one series icon has made his triumphant return, another has been unceremoniously replaced - the iconic Yakuza font that has been a staple of the franchise since its conception.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is recruiting some of the franchise's best and worst characters, including the Yakuza patriarch who dresses like a giant baby.

Yakuza fans are worried about everyone's favourite stoic protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, after the latest trailer for Like A Dragon Gaiden showed him uncharacteristically weeping.

Sega’s upcoming mouthful of a Yakuza spinoff, Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, will bring back Kazuma Kiryu for a new adventure set between the events of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and the upcoming Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has announced that Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will feature a special demo for Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which features an exclusive scene not present in the full game.

The 2010 PSP game Kurohyou: Ryu Ga Gotoku Shinshou, a spinoff of the Yakuza series, is now available to play with English subtitles thanks to a newly released fan project.

Recently, the Yakuza series hit the PC for the first time in DRM-free form via GOG. Now, the second-newest release in the series is available to enjoy on PC without having to be online or have DRM impede the experience in any way. the second-newest release in the series is available to enjoy on PC without having to be online or have DRM impede the experience in any way. While most of the franchise has been a beat-em-up, Like a Dragon was the first entry to really mix things up a ton thanks to it featuring Ichiban Kasuga as its main character – a charismatic, but low-ranking yakuza member who loves JRPGs like Dragon Quest and as a result, fights in turn-based battles with flashy attacks.

The voice of Kazuma Kiryu Takaya Kuroda, new English voice Yong Yea, and series chief producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto, explained the complexities of Like A Dragon's iconic lead, and what to expect in the series' new games.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will only see a digital launch later this year. 

Hitoshi Ozawa, the voice actor and face model for Yakuza 0 antagonist Daisaku Kuze, created a sequence of let's play videos last year where he started tackling the game that bears his likeness. Now, thanks to Yakuza fan channel Dragon Enterprise, some of those videos have been translated to English for our enjoyment.

PlayStation Plus giveth, and taketh away. Like any other running “subscription” service, every game cannot stay up indefinitely. While Sega won’t be taking tax-writeoffs and erasing Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 from existence; that trio is leaving PlayStation Plus on August 15.

Three Yakuza games are among the latest titles to leave Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service, and will disappear later this month.

A lead Yakuza dev has played down Kiryu's comments in a past trailer, and series fans can't handle it.