Sega has announced that Yakuza Kiwami will be released for the PS4 on August 29.
Yakuza originally launched for the PS2 in 2005, and Sega is billing Yakuza Kiwami as an “Extreme” remake of their gangland tale. In addition to the expected graphical bump, the PS4 re-release will also include re-recorded Japanese audio, nearly 30 minutes of brand new cutscenes, and loads of other bonus features. In another bit of good news, Sega tagged the game with a wallet-friendly sticker price of $29.99, and players who purchase the game during its initial printing will receive a special Steelbook case.
Yakuza Kiwami Features
A Family Patriarch’s Ransom of New Content – “Kiwami” literally translates to “Extreme,” and the game was named that for good reason. Not just a simple graphical upgrade, Kiwami adds nearly 30 minutes of cutscenes alone, providing all-new insight into the game’s plot and creating common threads with series prequel Yakuza 0. There’s also added distractions (Pocket Circuit car racing, MesuKing: Battle Bug Beauties, new hostesses, and more), side quests, combat updates, re-recorded Japanese dialogue, and more to bring the original Yakuza game into the latest console generation. A Place for Newcomers and Veterans – Yakuza Kiwami is the ultimate bridge in the series. Newcomers or those whose Yakuza experience started with Yakuza 0 will have familiar, exacting controls, top-notch Sega localization, and a solid starting point for entering the Yakuza franchise fresh. Veterans will experience a familiar Kamurocho and plot, but with new levels of story depth and graphical polish. But It Was Me! Majima! – Completely new to Kiwami is the “Majima Everywhere” system, where the series’ deranged, one-eyed maniac will constantly surprise and challenge Kiryu to combat when he least expects it. We’re talking “popping out of a goofy costume” levels of surprise, so players must stay on their toes and be ready to defend themselves from Kiryu’s chief rival. Extreme Revitalization – Kiwami is rebuilt from the ground up with all new HD assets, optimized for the PlayStation 4 and running in 1080p/60FPS. And following suit with Sega’s commitment to the Yakuza series, the game will release in both physical and digital formats in the west.
If you’re unfamiliar with Kazuma Kiryu’s story, Sega also launched the Yakuza Experience website today, and you can learn more about the franchise’s history with an interactive timeline and character map, as well as the first issue of a 10-part digital comic series.
