The upcoming release of Yakuza Kiwami 3 is coming with an unexpected change for the franchise, being coupled with the delisting of an older game. The beloved action series from Sega and RGG Studio has often looked to spruce up its older games for modern consoles, through both remasters of classic Yakuza games and full remakes. The Yakuza Kiwami subseries has seen the developer launch multiple full remakes of its classic titles, with two Yakuza Kiwami games already released. Now, the developer is gearing up for another highly-anticipated remake in Yakuza Kiwami 3.
RGG Studio officially revealed the upcoming remake of Yakuza 3 in September 2025, confirming the return of the Kiwami games after more than seven years. Yakuza Kiwami 3 is set to feature some big upgrades from the original game, including both new scenes within the game’s story and a wealth of side activities for players to enjoy. The remake is also set to include a brand-new spinoff packed in, with Dark Ties putting the focus on Yakuza 3 antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. However, the new Yakuza game’s release is now confirmed to come with a big asterisk attached for an older game in the series.
Yakuza Kiwami 3’s Release Will See An Older Yakuza Game Delisted
RGG Studio recently confirmed that the launch of Yakuza Kiwami 3 will be joined by an older game in the series being delisted. In an official announcement via the game’s social media accounts, RGG Studio revealed that players will no longer be able to purchase Yakuza 3 Remastered individually. The game will only be officially available for purchase through the “Complete Series” bundle for the franchise following Yakuza Kiwami 3‘s full release. RGG Studio did confirm that Yakuza 3 Remastered will not be completely removed, with the game still being available to fans who had previously purchased it.
The decision to delist Yakuza 3 Remastered has been met with plenty of backlash from fans angry about the change. Many pointed out that the Yakuza Complete Series collection is sold as a package rather than a bundle on Steam, with no reduced cost for owning other games in the bundle. Many fans have used the delisting to bring up greater issues with the remake, including complaints about members of Yakuza Kiwami 3‘s English voice cast and changes made to certain environments within the game. Some even suggested that Yakuza fans could potentially purchase a PlayStation 3 and the original version of Yakuza 3 for a lower price.
Yakuza Has Grown Into One of Sega’s Pillars
Yakuza‘s newest controversy comes as the games have grown bigger than ever, seeing plenty of success with its recent titles. The Yakuza franchise has grown into one of Sega’s flagship series, especially with the franchise’s soft reboot with 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. New Yakuza games have regularly received nods for major awards, with the most recent main-series game, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, receiving nominations for both “Best Narrative” and “Best Role-Playing Game” at the 2024 Game Awards. The franchise has also experimented with multiple spinoffs, including a remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin and the Majima-focused Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Yakuza‘s position as one of Sega’s mainstays has seen the series get plenty of publicity from the developer. The recent Sonic Racing: Crossworlds officially added a Yakuza collaboration as one of its litany of surprising crossovers, with players able to race as Ichiban Kasuga with his own unique vehicle. The Yakuza franchise also boasts a big presence on the Nintendo Switch 2, with Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 hitting the console alongside Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. The upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties look to bring something to the table for both old and new fans of the franchise.
- Released
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February 11, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, In-Game Purchases
