Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the creative force behind the long-standing Like a Dragon series, has expressed a keen interest in revamping Yakuza 3, the franchise's third major installment that originally debuted in 2009. Having previously revamped the initial two games of Sega's revered Yakuza series, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, in 2016 and 2017 respectively, fans have been eagerly awaiting news of a potential Yakuza 3 remake.
Recent times have seen Ryu Ga Gotoku actively releasing three Like a Dragon games within a year. Just over a year ago, they launched Like a Dragon: Ishin, a remake of the original 2014 spinoff game that was previously exclusive to Japan. Connecting Kazuma Kiryu's journey from Yakuza 6: The Song of Life to 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon, RGG rolled out Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name late last year as a lead-up to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which hit the shelves in January. Touted as the largest mainline Like a Dragon title in the franchise, Infinite Wealth stands out for its exceptional character roster, engaging storyline, and gratifying turn-based RPG combat.
During a recent livestream by Ryu Ga Gotoku, Masayoshi Yokoyama, the series director of Like a Dragon, shared some insights into the future of the franchise. As reported by Gematsu, he mentioned initiating the casting process for the forthcoming mainline game. While clarifying that the next game won't be Yakuza Kiwami 3, Yokoyama hinted at the studio's strong contemplation of remaking the third installment, stating, "I think we'll do Kiwami 3 at some point, I think we'll definitely do it sooner or later."
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Potential Yakuza Kiwami 3 Remake
With Yakuza 3 having been remastered as recently as 2019 alongside Yakuza 4 and 5, it remains to be seen if Ryu Ga Gotoku plans to give the franchise a Resident Evil-style treatment by fully remaking all the early titles for modern audiences. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the final chapter in the Kiryu saga, launched in 2016 and is yet to receive any remake or remaster treatment. The future may hold plans for such treatment, especially if the entire Kiryu saga undergoes Kiwami remakes in the years to come. With RGG showcasing its capability to work on multiple smaller projects alongside major titles, developing Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Like a Dragon 9 concurrently might be feasible.
Currently, RGG has no DLC in the pipeline for its recent hit, Infinite Wealth. It's likely to be a few years before the studio unveils its next major title, given that casting is at an early stage. However, there's always the possibility of smaller spinoffs like Like a Dragon: Ishin, Gaiden, or Judgment being released in the interim. As for Yakuza Kiwami 3, fans may have to wait a while longer for substantial updates.