Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) Studio’s Yakuza Kiwami 3 is the final entry with the ‘Kiwami’ branding, and Yakuza 4 and 5 will receive full-fledged reboots.
During the recent Ryusta TV livestream (via Dastanovich_ on Twitter/X and agent_kiryu47 on Reddit), Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio producer, director and writer Masayoshi Yokoyama announced that Yakuza Kiwami 3 will the last game to use the ‘Kiwami’ branding. He further clarified that future entries will instead be released as part of a brand new series. As such, Yakuza 4 and 5’s stories are being heavily rewritten to fully align with the Daidoji universe.
Yokoyama also hinted at major changes to Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties endings that will set the stage for a completely different plot compared to that of the original Yakuza 4.
Recently, RGG Studio acknowledged player feedback regarding technical issues in the downloadable demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties, confirming that a Version 1.11 patch will be available at launch to address them. The developer shared the update following reports of graphical inconsistencies and lighting problems observed in the demo that went live on January 21, 2026. In a public statement, the studio said, “We have heard concerns from players regarding graphical issues and other problems present in the downloadable demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties.” RGG Studio reassured players that the demo does not reflect the quality of the final product, stating, “Rest assured the graphical quality of the demo does not represent the final experience.”
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties is a game compilation developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. The package combines Yakuza Kiwami 3, a full remake of the 2009 title Yakuza 3 built using the Dragon Engine, with Dark Ties, a brand-new prequel story featuring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine as a playable protagonist. The bundle is scheduled for worldwide release on February 12, 2026, across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and Nintendo Switch 2.
