Game intel
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio are bundling a full remake of Yakuza 3 with a new prequel story starring Yoshitaka Mine in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, launching February 12, 2026 on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As someone who played Yakuza 3 on PS3 back in 2009, this caught my attention because that entry is the series’ most conflicted classic: heartfelt Okinawa chapters, a fantastic final act, but clunky combat and (in the West) missing side content. If RGG is truly rebuilding it, this could redeem a beloved but uneven sequel-and Mine finally getting playable status is a fascinating swing.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 revisits Kiryu and Haruka’s life at the Morning Glory orphanage in Okinawa before the inevitable return to Kamurocho chaos. The press line promises new cinematics and extra substories-music to the ears of long-time fans who remember Y3’s Western release trimming content and the PS3-era combat feeling stiff after Yakuza 0 spoiled us. The combat revamp is the big swing: a “Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami” style that claims the series’ densest move list, plus a new Ryukyu style centered on weapons and technical strings. If that second style leans into kobudō flavor (bo, sai, tonfa), it could give Okinawa its own identity instead of feeling like “Kamurocho, but sunny.”
There’s also “Legendary Gangster: Bad Boy Dragon,” a team brawler mode where you recruit and scrap alongside the Ryukyu Giga Gonz-a biker squad protecting Okinawa. On paper, that reads like a spiritual cousin to Yakuza 6/Kiwami 2’s Clan Creator, and the big question is depth: is this a one-and-done diversion, or a side game with proper progression, rival factions, and goofy heat attacks that keep you playing? Pre-ordering adds Ichiban Kasuga to the biker roster—a fun cameo, but let’s be real, putting a fan-favorite behind a pre-order is pure FOMO bait.
The curveball is Dark Ties, a brand-new campaign that lets you play as Yakuza 3’s steel-nerved antagonist, Yoshitaka Mine, charting his path from startup boss to Tojo titan. The pitch is a “refined, boxing-inspired” combat style with a “Dark Awakening” burst—think a precision, counter-heavy stance that flips into ruthless combos when you pop the meter. The underground “Hell Arena” returns with unique rule sets and a survival gauntlet, which tracks with RGG’s love for combat sandboxes.
I’m cautiously excited. Giving Mine his own arc could elevate Y3’s drama the way Ichiban’s Gaiden content reframed Kiryu. But RGG walks a tightrope: Mine’s mystique comes from icy control and that unforgettable finale. Over-explaining him or turning him into a quip machine would blunt his edge. If the writing leans more toward Judgment’s character nuance than simple villain deconstruction—and keeps the fights stylish and nasty—this could be special.
RGG’s tech journey has pinballed between the Dragon Engine and Unreal (Ishin!), with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth showing a much smoother, modernized Dragon Engine. Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties’ cross-gen target set (PS4 through PS5 and Series X|S, plus Switch 2 and PC) raises classic questions: are we looking at 60fps across the board, or a fidelity/performance split? How much destructibility and crowd density will carry over to Switch 2? RGG’s PC ports have improved a ton since the early days, but they still benefit from a couple of hotfixes post-launch. If this really is a from-the-ground-up remake, stability and animation weight will make or break it—especially for the weapon-driven Ryukyu style.
The Digital Deluxe bundle includes extra characters for the biker mode, customization packs (including flip-phone skins, which is a perfect 2009 throwback), and additional music. That reads mostly cosmetic/side-mode adjacent, which I can live with. What I don’t want is meaningful combat tech or Arena advantages tucked behind a paywall. RGG generally keeps core combat clean of micro-purchases—let’s hope that continues. There’s also a Deluxe upgrade path for standard buyers, which is the right call.
RGG is clearly setting the table. Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 hit Switch 2 on November 13, 2025 and arrive on PS5, Series X|S, and PC with more languages on December 8, alongside Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut expanding from Switch 2 to those platforms the same day. If you’ve somehow missed the Kiryu saga, 0 → Kiwami → Kiwami 2 remains the definitive ramp into Y3’s Okinawa arc. The only thing I’m still wondering: will Kiwami 3 restore every bit of the content the West lost the first time—and then some? The press nods to “new substories” suggest yes. That’s the win I’m hoping for.
RGG also teased its next project, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, which signals the studio isn’t slowing down post-Infinite Wealth. For now, Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the headline: a chance to fix Y3’s rough edges and try something daring with Mine. If the combat revamp lands and the writing respects what made Y3’s finale sting, this could be the definitive way to experience one of the series’ most debated entries.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties bundles a true Y3 remake with a bold Mine-led prequel. The combat overhaul and new modes look promising, but performance, depth, and narrative tone will decide if this is a classic-in-the-making or just a polished nostalgia tour.
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