Yakuza 0 for PS4 coming west, Yakuza 5 launches December 8
Yakuza 5 Launches December 8th, Yakuza 0 Coming to the Americas
As you saw at PlayStation Experience, we’re launching Yakuza 5 in the West on December 8th and we’ll be bringing Yakuza 0 to the Americas.
Besides being the 10th anniversary of the series, the release date for Yakuza 5 couldn’t be more perfect. While the Christmas holiday is a time for catching up with family, no sane person can spend more than two hours with relatives you see once or twice a year. One can only handle so much small talk and Christmas music before the madness starts creeping in.
With that said, I’ll be spending a lot of time over the holiday exploring the open world of Yakuza 5. Taking place across five different cities in Japan, Yakuza 5 follows five protagonists who have been involved with various yakuza syndicates in the past. Through a series of events, the protagonists are forcibly dragged back into the seedy underworld of Japan and will need to rely on their fighting, driving, shooting, and dancing skills to survive.
Moreover, we like to call the game “the Japan simulator” because the game’s numerous side-missions and mini-games genuinely make the game feel like being in Japan. I know that the myriad of things to do in the game will help recharge my batteries before explaining to my aunts for the one hundredth time what PR is and why it’s a real job. So, if you’re looking for an escape this Christmas, Yakuza 5 will be available digitally for PS3 on PlayStation Store.
But of course, you’re probably very interested in the other announcement we made. Yes, you heard correctly. Grab your gold chains and break out the party favors, we’re bringing back the 1980s by releasing Yakuza 0 to the Americas. Players will witness the rise of junior yakuza member Kazuma Kiryu, not yet the Dragon of Dojima, as he tries to regain his honor after a botched debt collection that ended in murder.
Additionally, for the first time in a numbered game, gamers will be able to play as Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano, as he tries to rejoin his clan. You don’t get nicknames like “Dragon of Dojima” or “Mad Dog of Shimano” for being soft, so expect each character to have his own unique fighting style and abilities that can be unleashed on poor rival gangsters.
The game is set in Tokyo, December 1988, and players will experience the cold weather and cold hard cash that is flooding the city. Cash is king and everyone, especially the yakuza, needs to have more of it. Thankfully, Kiryu and Majima are the “entrepreneurial” type and will have plenty of ways to make, spend, and take money. From telephone clubs to disco halls, there will be ample opportunities for Kiryu and Majima to flex their colorful suits, gold watches, and fat stacks.
Yakuza 0 will be localized and released physically and digitally for PS4 in the Americas. Stay tuned for more news soon!
SEGA is delighted to announce that the long-awaited Yakuza 0 is coming to North America and Europe in Early 2017. Available for PlayStation 4 both physically and digitally, Yakuza 0 is the origins story of Kazuma Kiryu and details his ascension into the ranks of the Yakuza – the name given to members of notorious Japanese crime organisations. Newcomers to the Yakuza series will be able to experience the action-packed, story-driven adventure from the very beginning of Kazuya’s story, one that focuses on navigating the seedy underworld of Japan while Yakuza fans will have the added joy of also getting the chance to play as long-time NPC, Majima Goro – the Mad Dog of Shimano.
To celebrate this exciting news, SEGA Europe have launched the ‘Legends’ trailer.
Yakuza 0 Features
• The Dragon’s Origins: What lies in a man’s past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don’t get to be called “Dragon” without being able to knock a few heads. Combat abilities can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
• Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is now playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza’s most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
• The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to-do gangster.
• Possession is 9/10ths…: Yakuza 0 will get a physical release! More details on the retail edition will come at a later date.
Yakuza 0 will release with Japanese voice over and English only subtitles on PlayStation 4 in Early 2017. For more information, please visit: yakuza.sega.com/yakuza0
The 1980s in Japan were defined by unprecedented amounts of decadent overindulgence – and nothing was out of greed’s reach, especially in Kamurocho.
A chilly but electric Tokyo in December 1988 is the backdrop for Kazuma Kiryu’s ascension into the ranks of the Yakuza – the name given to members of notorious crime organizations. And with Yakuza 0, newcomers to SEGA’s Yakuza series will be able to get in on the ground floor, with the game’s standalone, story-driven action that focuses on navigating the seedy underworld of Japan with series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, and for the first time in a numbered title, players will be able to play as long-time NPC, Goro Majima – the Mad Dog of Shimano.
Available on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, the game will be localized and released as physical and digital versions in the Americas.
Features
• The Dragon’s Origins: What lies in a man’s past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don’t get to be called “Dragon” without being able to knock a few heads. Combat styles can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
• Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is now playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza’s most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
• The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to-do gangster.
Make Kamurocho Yours - Yakuza 0 Launches in the Americas and Europe on January 24
Behind the decadent glitz and glamour of 1980s Japan lies an underworld of money, sin, and above all else... opportunity. Anything and everything is ripe for the taking, but always remember that more money inexorably leads to more problems. And for Yakuza 0's two protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, the problems are just starting. And their problems will become players' problems when SEGA of America, Inc.'s gangster drama Yakuza 0 launches in the Americas and Europe beginning Jan. 24, 2017 for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system. The game will be released physically and digitally for $59.99, and pre-orders are now live at retail!
About
Yakuza 0 tells the origin stories of Kazuma Kiryu, the rising Dragon of Dojima, and Goro Majima, before he's known as the Mad Dog of Shimano, as they fight, hustle, flirt, and dance their way through the seedy underbelly of Japan. Taking place in a chilly but electric Kamurocho, Tokyo in December 1988, Kiryu's story follows his steady ascension up the ranks of the Dojima yakuza crime family until he gets blamed for a debt collection gone wrong. Kiryu must utilize his cunning and his fists in order to regain his honor and save the reputation of his father figure, Shintaro Kazama. Meanwhile, Goro Majima is running a popular cabaret in Osaka, but he wants more than anything to rejoin the yakuza clan that ousted him. He'll need to complete a series of impossible tasks set by his bosses, but will these tasks push Majima past the point of no return?
Features
• The Dragon's Origins: What lies in a man's past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don't get to be called "Dragon" without being able to knock a few heads. Combat styles can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
• Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza's most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
• The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to-do gangster.
Yakuza 0 is being localized by SEGA of America and will be released physically and digitally in the Americas and Europe beginning Jan. 24, 2017. The game will be available on PlayStation 4 systems for $59.99 (with comparable prices throughout the Americas). For more information, please visit: yakuza.sega.com/yakuza0.
Yakuza 0 “The Business” Edition Revealed, New Story Details
Hey everybody, we’re back here on PlayStation.Blog today to give you guys an exclusive look at the opening moments of the upcoming PS4 crime drama that kicks off the entire Yakuza series, Yakuza 0. But first, we’ve got some good news for you!
First, we’ve got the details on the launch day edition of Yakuza 0! For those who pre-order and secure a copy when the game launches, we’ve created the special Yakuza 0 “The Business” launch edition! It includes the game, a stainless steel business card holder decorated with Kiryu’s Dragon tattoo and Majima’s “Hanya” tattoo designs. Oh, we also made bi-lingual replicas of their business cards from Tachibana Real Estate and the Cabaret Grand. (We also included a special “Hostesses” card, because Yakuza.)
Second, there have been a lot of people asking for this, and we’re finally confirming here on PlayStation.Blog that Yakuza 0 will have a digital pre-order starting today! The digital version of the game will include a static theme for PS4 featuring the two protagonists.
Awesome, right? But wait, there’s more! We wanted to give a little bit more context for the gravity of the situation Kiryu’s found himself in, so we’ve put together a bit of an insider’s look at Kiryu’s predicament exclusively for PlayStation.Blog.
In Yakuza 0, Tokyo circa 1988 is the stomping grounds of our boy Kazuma Kiryu — just 20 years old — who’s just joined the ranks of the Dojima Family. Y’know, one of the most powerful yakuza crime syndicates in all of Kamurocho, the most prominent red-light district of Tokyo.
One cold December night, he gets handed a job befitting a newcomer to organized crime: go collect this measly 300 grand debt (That’s in Yen, mind you… that would have been around $2,450 in 1988 or just shy of $5k today, adjusting for inflation) from this sad sack of a dude, and deliver the money to the loan shark waiting for it. Pretty standard fare when it comes to that “first-day-on-the-job” task for yakuza.
So, put yourself in Kiryu’s shoes. You do the job, hand off the money, and afterwards, you call — er, page (It’s 1988, remember!) — your best bud and you hit the town. You unwind a bit by sobering some drunks up with your fists, you have a few drinks yourself, you hit the karaoke machine, and you end the night where any good night ends — a little ramen joint. All in all, a good day’s work, right? Right.
Wait… what’s that news on the TV? That guy you just worked over has turned up dead? Uh oh. Your pager starts beeping like crazy. It’s a message from headquarters — the crime family you work for. And it’s got the little code for “urgent” in front of the number. That ramen in your stomach is starting to feel real heavy because now the police and others are going to start poking their noses in your crime family’s business, and take a wild guess how much the head of the family likes having to answer police questioning. That’s where players find themselves when they start off in Yakuza 0. As for Kiryu? He’s going to have to work exceptionally hard if he wants to be alive for lunch.
Oh yeah — that place where they find the dead body of the guy Kiryu worked over? It’s called “The Empty Lot.” Capital “E,” capital “L.” It’s smack dab in the middle of a massive redevelopment project underway in Kamurocho, and let’s just say it’s…pretty valuable.
Yakuza 0 hits your PS4 on January 24, 2017 and is available for pre-order now!
Yakuza 0 is available today for PlayStation 4 in the Americas and Europe. And with it comes the launch trailer and downloadable content plans.
According to Sega, it will be releasing a few patches over the next couple of weeks that add free downloadable content to the game. Each batch will contain content such as new outfits, weapons, items, and crafting components. The first downloadable content is available today, and three additional batches will be made available every week until February 14. Players can access these bonuses in the game by talking to Bob the clown in front of the shrine in Kamurocho or Sotenbori.
Here’s an overview of the game, via Sega:
About
Dateline, Dec. 9, 1988. Japan’s bubble economy is in full swing, and so are the vices and expensive tastes of its denizens, and everybody has a price in Yakuza 0, the pre-quel to Sega’s long-running series. The fictional red-light districts of Kamurocho, Tokyo and Sotenbori, Osaka are bursting at the seams for enterprising young criminals to make or take some serious stacks of yen, be it beating up street thugs or running a real estate investment scheme. Players will help shape the foundations of the legendary series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and the nefarious Goro Majima.
Yakuza 0 tells the origin stories of Kazuma Kiryu, the rising Dragon of Dojima, and Goro Majima, before he’s known as the Mad Dog of Shimano, as they fight, hustle, flirt, and dance their way through the seedy underbelly of Japan. Taking place in a chilly but electric Kamurocho, Tokyo in December 1988, Kiryu’s story follows his steady ascension up the ranks of the Dojima yakuza crime family until he gets blamed for a debt collection gone wrong. Kiryu must utilize his cunning and his fists in order to regain his honor and save the reputation of his father figure, Shintaro Kazama. Meanwhile, Goro Majima is running a popular cabaret in Osaka, but he wants more than anything to rejoin the yakuza clan that ousted him. He’ll need to complete a series of impossible tasks set by his bosses, but will these tasks push Majima past the point of no return?
Features
The Dragon’s Origins: What lies in a man’s past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don’t get to be called “Dragon” without being able to knock a few heads. Combat styles can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza‘s most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to- do gangster.