This week, RGG Studio held their annual event, the RGG Summit. If you’re unfamiliar with the event, it’s when the studio announces new games and hosts panels with their developers and actors. The Summit is followed by a Direct, which provides additional commentary and gameplay footage related to the announcements made during the Summit. While RGG Studio is also working on other games, such as Stranger Than Heaven and Virtua Fighter, the main spotlight was on the Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise.
The first and main announcement was the remake of Yakuza Kiwami 3. If you’re a Yakuza fan who keeps up with news about the series, this might not come as much of a surprise. Yakuza Kiwami 3 has been requested by fans for quite some time, so this remake promises to deliver and then some. There will be new side quests, minigames, cutscenes, and activities. Some of the new content even includes what is essentially a Dad Simulator. As Kiryu, while living at the Morning Glory orphanage, you’ll now be able to cook, go fishing, catch bugs, and unlock new side quests for each child at the orphanage. Additionally, a new side story and activity featuring Kiryu joining a biker gang has also been added.
However, the big surprise from the Summit was the announcement of an entirely new game, which will be included with Yakuza Kiwami 3. Dark Tides is a new story featuring Yoshitaka Mine, the antagonist from the original Yakuza 3. Set in the familiar streets of Kamurocho, the game introduces new characters and activities, including an underground fight club, a new management side story, and most notably, a brand-new fighting style. This new style is described as Stylish Shoot-Boxing Combat and features a Dark Awakening mode, which transforms Mine into a stronger, more relentless fighter.
Other announcements included a Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut release for Steam and other consoles, releasing on December 8, as well as Kiwami 1 and Kiwami 2 coming to the Nintendo Switch on November 13. Not everything was met with praise, though. Some fans have expressed disappointment with changes to the appearance of certain Yakuza 3 characters, most notably the iconic Rikiya. However, these changes appear to be tied to the likenesses of the new actors, which may ultimately help foster a deeper emotional connection through more realistic performances.
Are you excited for this remake? Will you be picking it up when it launches on February 11 in 2026? Let us know in the comments, and for more on Yakuza, stay tuned to GameLuster.
