The Yakuza series has been running for fifteen years now, originating way back on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. With the anniversary of the first game's release rapidly approaching, the team has announced a 15th anniversary Yakuza stream that will celebrate the series' path over the years, as well as announcing what's coming next.
While nothing has been set in stone just yet, for Yakuza fans who are desperate to know what might be revealed during the stream, here's a look at the most likely possibilities.
Yakuza Kiwami 3
For newcomers to the series, there may be some confusion as to what the Yakuza Kiwami games are. Simply put, Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 are remakes of the first two games of the series, which were originally launched on the PS2. While the Kiwami versions take some creative liberties and expand upon the original plots somewhat, they're ultimately faithful renditions of the titles with new sparkling graphics appropriate for the PS4 era of video games.
With that in mind, Yakuza Kiwami 3 may very well be next on the list for the Yakuza team to announce. The original Yakuza 3 released for the PS3, which means that it was two game console generations ago, just like the PS2 to PS4 remakes of Kiwami 1 and 2. While the PS3 offered up pretty impressive graphics for its time, there's no denying that even the Yakuza 3 remaster has aged considerably, and could use a total overhaul in order to appeal to newcomers to the series.
Since the latest game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, acts as a possible entry point to the franchise for newcomers, many players who discover a newfound interest in the series may choose to look back to its origins after finishing up the RPG. While Yakuza 0, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 will provide players with a fairly impressive visual experience and modernized gameplay, turning on Yakuza 3 could come as a bit of a shock, especially for those who may have already become accustomed to next-gen visuals and mechanics.
Previously, rumors of a Yakuza Kiwami 3 swirled around the Tokyo Game Show of 2020, with hints from a host that the game would be announced there. However, ultimately nothing came to pass regarding the game or any other Yakuza series reveals, for that matter. If it is in development, it's possible that the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in a delay for the title, or perhaps the development team decided it didn't want to announce something new while Yakuza: Like a Dragon was still due for release in English-speaking territories.
Yakuza Spin-Off
While some consider Yakuza: Like a Dragon to be a spin-off due to its change to a new protagonist, RPG mechanics, and for having a subtitle rather than being a numbered entry, its original title in Japan is Yakuza 7, meaning it's technically a main Yakuza series entry. With that in mind, the series is overdue for a new spin-off game.
Yakuza as a whole is no stranger to spin-off titles. The series has seen the release of a zombie game in the form of Yakuza: Dead Souls for the PS3, as well as two Samurai spin-offs and a mobile game, Yakuza Online, though neither of which have yet to make their way to the west. However, it's unlikely that any announcements about bringing the latter games to the west will be made, as the stream will be in Japanese and primarily intended for Japanese audiences.
While the wait for a new main game entry has stretched anywhere from a year to four between releases, the overall series rarely goes stagnant for long, often peppering the years in-between with side games and spin-offs. With the exception of the free retro-styled mini-game Streets of Kamurocho, the latest major spin-off to release was Judgment in 2018 (in Japan), a detective investigation game set in Kamurocho.
The idea of a new side-game releasing three years after the last one, in 2021, makes a lot of sense. However, if this turns out to be the case, it remains to be seen what the subject matter may be, as the Yakuza spin-off games often surprise fans at how far off the beaten path they go from the main games.
Yakuza: Like an Ashura
Some fans may have heard that Yakuza: Like an Ashura, a prequel game looking at the origins of one of the Omi clan's leaders, is being teased by the Yakuza series' producer. However, these claims have now proven to be false. The rumor originally started due to what was claimed to be a screenshot of a tweet from series producer Masa Yokoyama, who allegedly shared a render of a young man and the title 'Yakuza: Like an Ashura' alongside the mysterious text "Very well. Continue to the next chapter."
Since the 'screenshot' initially made waves, however, the series producer has openly addressed the rumor on his actual Twitter account, expressing that he never made the tweet, the Yakuza: Like an Ashura rumor is completely false, and that if he were to be involved in such a thing, he never would have named the game Yakuza: Like an Ashura.
For now, gamers will have to wait with bated breath to see what's in store for the Yakuza series next. However, they don't have too long to wait. The 15th anniversary Yakuza stream will be held on December 8 at 3 am PT, 6 am ET. Fans can tune in then to find out exactly what the long-running franchise will be releasing next.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is available now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PS5 version set to release March 2, 2021.