Yakuza: Like a Dragon has just been confirmed that it will be a next-gen timed exclusive for the Xbox Series X, with it getting a PlayStation 5 release at a later date.
Though it will be a "timed exclusive" for next gen, Yakuza: Like a Dragon (or Yakuza 7 in Japan) is set to release on all current-gen consoles at the same time, with it coming to the West for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in November 2020, and slated as a launch title for the upcoming Xbox Series X. It will release "at a later date" for the upcoming PlayStation 5, according to Sega.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon will support Xbox's Smart Delivery program, allowing for anybody who purchases the Xbox One version to have the ability to play the game's Xbox Series X version for free, or vice versa. Sega also stated that “a PlayStation 5 upgrade path is also being planned for the Western release and will be announced at a later date."
The game released on the PlayStation 4 in Japan back in January of 2020, and is described as “a complete re-imagining of the franchise." The series first began on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, with most of the series sticking strictly to PlayStation consoles.
It feels a bit ironic to see the newest entry become a next-gen Xbox timed console exclusive, as only one of the entries in the series has ever made its way to Microsoft's line of consoles (Yakuza 0 for the Xbox One). Older titles in the series will apparently make their way to Xbox Game Pass, hopefully in time for the newest entry's launch later this year.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the seventh mainline entry in the Yakuza franchise, and is stated to be a re-imagining of some sorts. The game introduces an RPG-style turn-based battle system, which was shown off in a recent trailer. The game follows the new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, a lower-level yakuza member, and centers on he and his crew member's rise through ranks. Though the title features a completely different battle system, Sega has stated that future games in the series may revert back to the old gameplay style.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon releases in the West for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Series X this holiday season, as well as the PlayStation 5 at a later date.
Source: VGC