The latest game in the core Yakuza series will make its Western debut three years after its Japanese launch.
Yakuza is one of those series that’s traditionally done well in Japan but struggled to find an audience in Western markets. The most recent game in the core series launched in 2012 overseas, but last year Sega stated it had “no plans” for a Western release of Yakuza 5. Apparently, plans change: Yakuza 5 is coming to North American PS3 systems in 2015.
The news was announced at the PlayStation Experience keynote earlier today. The last Yakuza game to get a North American release was Yakuza 4, which came out for PS3 in 2011. The announcement trailer gives a brief look at Japan’s criminal underworld, around which the series revolves.
Though I’ve never played a Yakuza game, it’s always good to see titles fans have been clamoring for become more readily available. And if Yakuza 5 is coming to North America, who knows? Maybe Valkyria Chronicles III could be next.
