Yakuza Kiwami Brings The Dragon Of Dojima To Switch For The First Time

Took them long enough to finally bring the series to Switch

But why only Kiwami? I at the very least was expecting them to bundle 0, Kiwami and maybe Kiwami 2 together

I'm finally trying one of these. I never grabbed them on PS4/PS5.

Welp I am sure this is to gauge interest but sure I will buy again to support the cause. This will be a put up or shut up moment for Nintendo consumers.

I also sorta wonder if SEGA is hedging bets for another system in case they exit xbox.

"This is the first time the Yakuza — now known as Like a Dragon — series is appearing on a Nintendo console."

Nah, 1+2 HD was on Wii U

Physical? Is there a physical? If not I’ll pass.

I wasn't expecting anything that would catch my interest from the direct, but Atelier Yumia, Castlevania, and now Yakuza? Good grief, my gaming interest was low lately, but this really revitalized it!

@mariomaster96 Was going to say that, although it was only in Japan. Excited this is coming to Switch. I have the game on Xbox but will get it again.

A very weird closer, but a welcome one

This is going to depend a lot on pricing how likely I am to pick it up. Not a lot of point dropping $60 on the game when you can routinely find it for $5 elsewhere.

@mariomaster96 probably to test the waters to see if Yakuza is popular enough on Nintendo.

Hopefully this is reasonably priced. Not paying 60. Max I'll pay is 40.

and I HOPE THIS RUNS well on Switch.

I always thought this was a game/series incredibly closely tied to PlayStation and never thought it would ever come to a Nintendo console. Huh.

Well, not sure if I'm too interested personally anyway.

Best announcement of the day. I will buy again to show support. Looking forward to people throwing their switches due to Mahjong.

"This is the first time the Yakuza — now known as Like a Dragon — series is appearing on a Nintendo console." what about the obscure japan only 1+2 collection on wii u!?

Surprised they didnt release zero first. Its the first game in the timeline and is arguably the better game. Zero and kiwami 2 are the best imo

Up there with my favourite series ever. Yes, 0 is much better than Kiwami but it’s also a decent starting point given 0 does have a hell of a lot of callbacks to the first 5 games in the series.

If the Yakuza creator wasn't a douche at the beginning we would had gotten the rest by now. The dude put Yakuza 1 & 2 on Wii U and then never release it worldwide and says okay since it doesn't sell well on Wii U in Japan then it won't sell on Nintendo period. Let's see how this one turns out. Yes it's just another PS2 remastered port of the first game but at least it's something I suppose. My guess is if this one sell well probably the dude will dump the rest on Switch 2.

So, Nagoshi, Sato, Yokoyama

You said that Switch isn't the right platform for Yakuza right?

Well, what happened now, HUH????

What made you decide to put it now???

I know Nagoshi left but still.

@anoyonmus this game worked on ps3 (it was only on ps4 outside of japan but in japan was on ps3) so it will run good as the switches power is similar to that of a ps3.

@Yosher Nowadays it's more tied to Xbox, they have had the marketing rights for the most recent games.

@Hee-ho-master lets wait and see

This is hilarious considering the creator of the series has gone on record saying that Yakuza Switch ports are unlikely because the Switch is "for a younger audience".

https://www.thegamer.com/yakuza-creator-toshihiro-nagoshi-says-nintendo-switch-is-for-kids-and-teens/

Guess Sega realized that Switch money is too good to pass up on lol.

@mariomaster96 it is because Kawami 1 is running on the Yakuza 0 engine while Kawami 2 is running on the Yakuza 6 engine. Yakuza 6 was built from the ground up to run on PS4 while Yakuza 0 was designed to run on PS3 and ported over to PS4 mid development. So they would need to port Yakuza 6's engine to the Switch to bring Kawami 2 over... Odds are they're already doing that, but probably using Kawami 1 to test the interest.

Edit:
Porting an engine that was not designed with a console in mind is never easy. It is why Final Fantasy XV never came to Switch despite strong interest from the developers. Luminous just could not run on Switch and they'd had to port the game to UE4... Too much cost compared to profit. So porting two engines to Switch when they don't even know if the game will sell is a big ask.

@Wexter I know that Kiwami 2 runs on a different engine, thats why I said "and MAYBE Kiwami 2"

But 0 would definitely have been possible since it uses the same engine as Kiwami 1, like you said

It's Yakuzain' time.

Very weird to only bring Kiwami, but I assume they plan to port 0 and maybe Kiwami 2 as well before the console finally bows. Kiwami is still a very good game and worth it if you're remotely interested in the games. You can get 60+ hours out of it easily.

It's a very good brawler, quasi-life sim and dark Japanese drama about crime life. You can hop between playing an addictive RC car minigame against little kids that laugh at you when you lose to fighting for your life in a back alley against muggers that pull knives on you.

Also, as stated, Kiwami is the first game remade. Kiwami 2 is the second game remade (though kind of wasted it's plot line potential), and Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the first game. 0 is widely considered the best Yakuza game, or at least the gold standard of Yakuza games to aim for. It has so much content and variety in everything that your head would EXPLODE if I tried to list it in any sort of concise format.

@JR150 He's not been at Sega for a long time. He's probably the one that vetoed attempts in the past, after the Wii U ports flopped years ago. I wonder if he's fuming about the release now, even though he no longer works for Sega.

My biggest surprise with this announcement is that it took this long and it's only the first game. The rest of the series has been everywhere else for a while now. I might just wait and see if we get a proper collection in a few years.

Calling it: Sega execs have been looking at Switch sales numbers and bugging the developer to port Yakuza for ages now, so they're gonna sent out some full-priced port to die on the market in order to justify continuing to ignore Nintendo next generation when they release hardware that'll likely be able to run all the Yakuza games.

I've been thinking for a long time i should get into this series. Is it sorta like a modern day brawler like streets of rage or more like Shenmu?

It is a start, but with the amount of games the series has. Dunno just the first game? Not even 0? 0 I think is important to play before Kiwami and 0 is also really good. Even after playing all the games outside of Infinite Wealth I still think its one of the best in the series.

the OG versions of 1& 2 have been on the Wii U but only in Japan I think. This is amazing!

@ShonenJump121 its a test release to see if people on Nintendo will buy Yakuza.

@Ralizah probably that is the case.

But lets see.

@Ralizah You don't really think Sega would be dumb enough to charge full price? I mean, Yakuza Kiwami is $20 on every other platform currently, that's the full price it's charging. If they add Nintendo Tax and even double it or go to $30...

Well, it's Sega. So stupid is very likely. Might be needing that Eric Andre "Who killed <x>?" meme...

It's weird they are doing Kiwami 1 without Zero, I sure hope they don't try charging something silly for it.

It reminds me of them sending Yakuza out on the Wii to basically die (as they shortly announced Zero and it wont come to Wii U, then a remake of 1 after that) then blaming the low sales for not porting any Yakuza games to Nintendo platform.

@ShonenJump121 Agreed 0 makes 1's story much more emotional.

I got an xbox and gamepass last year, I'm excited for Yakuza on Switch, but it might be too late for me.

It kinda sucks that they aren't releasing the games in the best order, Yakuza 0 should have been released Yakuza 0 first. It looks more like they are getting ready to capitalize on the possible success of the tv show.

@Ralizah Came to comment the exact same thing.

It's frankly bizarre how they've treated Yakuza on Switch considering how Sega's generally been great with Switch support.

Interesting, heard good things about this series.

It's just nice to see Sega make a major announcement in the Partner Direct again. Last time it was SMB Banana Rumble, now this.

I sooo love these series. If you havent played this one, def do! I am going to double dip, just to show my support, for future support on the switch 2.
(Like a dragon)

@Buizel SEGA loves Nintendo, but RGG Studio... not so much, considering how biased against Nintendo the director is.

@Elbow Maybe not $60, but enough that it'll price out most people who know you can get the game everywhere else for practically nothing on sale.

@fenlix Did not know that. Thanks for the info!

That was a weirdly flat delivery for a one-more-thing.

@Ralizah Nagoshi left now so yeah...

@mariomaster96 I’m told that it’s possible this is a port of the PS3 version of Kiwami, which would explain it as the other games were not on the PS3.

They are still calling it Yakuza? Really? I thought we were past that.

I own like 7-8 of these games on Steam already.

@Serpenterror In some fairness, this was still in the era where Like A Dragon was still very niche, released on a niche, struggling system. Would have been a kiss of death.

@deKay 0 was on PS3. Just saying.

I was going to say isn't there like billion of these games?

OMG Finally LAD comes to Nintendo! (aside from the Wii U port) 😃😃

@mariomaster96 probably to see how well it sells. If it sells well, then expect a 2 and the rest added 1 at a time maybe.

@CutchuSlow I think 0 will come after Kiwami 2

Could be wrong tho

@Ralizah @Buizel

It's confirmed that it'll be only $20.
https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/kiwami-switch/asia_en/

Thank you Sega! My favourite series is finally coming to my favourite console! My jaw dropped when I seen the announcement, I never thought it would happen, thank you all involved for making this a reality, Day 1 for sure 👌

@IceClimbers Oh wow! I guess I was wrong.

Already played this on PS4, but might just grab the Switch port to 'send a message,' so to speak.

@Ralizah damn me too. I was wrong too.

About time Sega. I'm definitely picking this up.

@roy130390 you are in for a treat, sir. HOWEVER- I strongly suggest you get your hands on and complete Zero first. It’s a masterpiece.

If we get Zero, Kiwami 2 and the rest of the core games for Switch next, I will be a very happy boy.

Also obligatory- “YO- KIRYUCHAN!” 😎

@VHSGREMLIN I think only Kiwami 1and 0 can run on Switch. Rest are too demanding.

@anoyonmus maybe so.. maybe we can get the rest on Nintendo’s next console.

@mariomaster96 All good! I have no idea why they're not bringing Yakuza 0 over as well as it is on the same engine and is a fan favorite... That is an odd choice.

@IceClimbers Nice, I'll definitely pick it up then. Let's hope this does well enough to prove their prior reticence wrong.

A shame it's not Yakuza 0 though...

Happy to see Yakuza on the Nintendo system. May it pave the way for more.

Always been somewhat interested in this series. May have to pick it up.

Ten years In the joint made you into a nintendo switch port

@mariomaster96 In Japan, that doesn't count

@YourDaddy Idk about flawlessly.

But lets see

@YourDaddy I guess so. I did play Yakuza 0 for some time in my college game's room on a PS4. Only for some time, didn't finish it. Was a fun game.

I think if Kiwami sells well enough, maybe 0 will come to Switch or Switch 2 or both.

Heck yeah kiryu and majima are my fave video game bois

@VHSGREMLIN Thanks for the recommendation! I'm a big brawler/beat'em up fan and I also like engaging explorable worlds so I'm excited to try it.

@roy130390 These games are very fun and gets silly at times but in a good way. I hope you have a fun time playing it as much as I did on ps4/ps5.

Yakuza 0 would have made more sense to me since it is a relatively "contained" experience. This one is also one of the more stripped down entries in the series if I remember correctly too, with not many mini games or arcade games since it is still based on the first game in the series. I think the more recent games might be a bit too demanding or simply large for the current Switch but this is one of my favourite game series so it is good to see it reaching out even further.

I'm excited to get this!

@Leonhart Thanks! They kinda remind me of the River City/Kunio games which is a very good thing.

@roy130390 no problem, have fun!

This was the "...but does it run well on Switch?" announcement of the day.

Would’ve loved if they’d bundled in 0 with this (always felt like they were two halves to a whole) but even Kiwami on its own is a pretty big win for the Switch. The only concern I have is how it’ll run, as there seemed to be at least one bit in the trailer that seemed to run a bit…..subpar, which has me a bit worried that it won’t run as well as it really should given the game shares the same engine as 0, which was released on the PS3.

SEGAs been working with LRG a lot lately. I anticipate this will also get a physical from them… in two years lol

@nessisonett Yeah, I never understood the call to start with 0. You are going to miss half the game unless you played the first 5 before that.

@GrowingWings Well the problem is that Kiwami is 100% a sequel to 0! There’s honestly not a best way to start the series but I’m glad I started with 0 back in 2017 cause it was a great enough game to get me into the series.

is this game coming out on the switch the same day as the amazon yakuza tv series?

@Ralizah The RGG studio director is just butthurt his precious Yakuza HD sold piss poor on the Wii U

ME trying to remember if I played this on another platform before, or not. Sucks getting old.

a bit surprised they didn't change the name to "Like A Dragon Kiwami". Aside from looking a bit blurry it looks like a solid overall port!

I will admit the primary reason I hope this sells is if the other games get ported, I will finally get VF on switch.

@YourDaddy @8thDoctor @Ryu_Niiyama @Ralizah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq3PoetY5hU&list=LL&index=6&t=119s

Apparently this is Nintendo Switch gameplay.

@anoyonmus Looks pretty darn solid!

@Ralizah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtorPVejrys&t=794s

Live stream as well. Maybe everyone here should know this.

@nessisonett I guess you can play it like I usually play Resident Evil games, playing both the originals and the remakes in release order, but I'm sure 90% of the players wouldn't bother with that. (Even though Mark Hamill is awesome as Majima in the original)

So yeah, the devs certainly put new players in an awkward situation where they will either miss all the awesome references in 0 or will miss all the Nishiki backstory in Kiwami and all the Majima backstory in Kiwami 2.

@Truegamer79 It's more of a brawler, but with a very well developed story. You get cut scenes (very well acted/animated) and then you are in an "open-world" seedy section of the city where you have to go and do things, all the while getting attacked by various thugs.

If I'm assured that buying this will ensure Yakuza 0 will be brought to Switch, I'm in!

I want Yakuza 0 for sure! If only to play arcade games at Club Sega, on a portable system... man...