Last week, an accidental website update revealed the existence of Yakuza Kiwami 3. Now, as part of SEGA's Tokyo Game Show announcements, the game has been officially revealed. The game won't just offer a remake of the original Yakuza 3, but it will come with its own expansion too, titled ‘Dark Ties'.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 has been officially announced. The game is a complete remake of the original Yakuza 3, which released for the PS3 back in 2009. Like the other Kiwami games, the new version will be built on the Yakuza 6 engine, bringing the game up to the same graphical and technical standard as Yakuza 6, Yakuza 0 and the other Kiwami games. This new version will also feature an English dub for the first time.
Yakuza 3 has an odd place in the series. In terms of gameplay, it suffered from some changes that were later kept out of future games. However, it is also cited as being a pivotal entry in the Kiryu saga. Fans who have already played the original can expect gameplay that matches up with the other Kiwami games, and for those who have experienced it all before, you may still want to pick up this re-release, as it packs bonus DLC.
The new DLC, titled Dark Ties, will put players in the shoes of Yoshitaka Mine, the main antagonist for Yakuza 3, offering a new side story to further explore various characters.
With Yakuza Kiwami 3 now a reality, fans will no doubt also be hoping for Kiwami remakes of Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5. Once complete, that would put the entire six-game set on equal footing in terms of graphics and gameplay, among other features. The Yakuza series does continue beyond Yakuza 6, but from Yakuza 7 onwards, the story no longer centers around Kiryu and instead introduces a new cast of characters.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 will release for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 on the 12th of February 2026. In the meantime, SEGA is bringing Yakuza 0 Director's Cut to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in December, and the Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 titles are also getting new PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions at that same time.
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KitGuru Says: Are you looking forward to Yakuza Kiwami 3? Will this be your first time playing Yakuza 3?