RGG’s Downfall Gives Nagoshi Studios the Chance to Do the Unthinkable

Whether you’ve seen my critical take on Yakuza Kiwami 3 or are simply a longtime fan wondering where the series is headed, it’s clear things aren’t looking great. Kiwami 3 disappointed many veteran players, especially when compared to the original game, and the way SEGA and RGG Studio tried to fix the issues only made things worse.

It’s hard to understand the direction this series is taking. Instead of building on what came before or exploring more complex stories, why are we revisiting Kiryu’s story when he’s already had his time in the spotlight? It feels like a step backwards.

RGG Studio is still pursuing its current direction, which some find uncertain. However, I’m curious if Nagoshi Studio’s new ‘Gang of Dragon’ project might actually be more successful. What would it take for the former head of the series to outperform his previous work? Let’s explore the possibilities.

Just a heads-up: the following discussion contains significant spoilers for the stories of Yakuza Kiwami 3 and its expansion, Dark Ties.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 Barely Respects the Original

Some of it Just Doesn’t Make Sense

Putting aside the changes to Hamazaki and Mine’s storylines at the end, I think the core story of Yakuza Kiwami 3 is very close to the original game. I understand the individual stories from the orphanages were removed from the main plot, but I actually prefer the redesigned side stories for each child, and the new orphanage mode is a great addition. This change improves the story’s pacing, even if only slightly.

Honestly, I’m confused, and I think many others are too, about all the things that have been removed from the game. It’s strange to see Revelations, a lot of the side stories, the hostess club, and even Komaki gone – especially Komaki! He was Kiryu’s original fighting instructor, the one who taught him the Dragon of Dojima style. It just feels odd with these changes.

Many of the side stories in the original Yakuza 3 weren’t very memorable – they were either trivial or frustratingly slow and silly. While it makes sense to cut some of them, I think a few of those removals actually hurt the game’s overall reputation. Specifically, I’m disappointed to see the removal of ‘Murder at Café Alps’ and the side story involving Ayaka at the Bantam bar.

I think the Café Alps murder case, even though it was structured differently, helped establish some of the detective work we see in the Judgment series.

The “Talking About Me?” side story, starring Ayaka, was a groundbreaking depiction of LGBTQ+ representation, particularly for the transgender community, at a time when the subject was rarely discussed. This was likely due to Toshihiro Nagoshi’s own respect for the community, as he frequently featured trans woman Ayana Tsubaki as a co-host on his livestreams – she even served as the model for Ayaka in that very story.

I’m not blaming anyone, but the lack of explanation for removing these side stories is frustrating. The reasoning that bringing back things like the Revelations would take too much work, and then offering extra content as a replacement, felt dishonest. While the Revelations were more lighthearted in Yakuza 4, they were still a key part of what made the original Yakuza 3 special.

The Fanbase that Erased Their Name

At this Point, We’ve All Been Fools

I still think the Dark Ties campaign is a fantastic addition to Yakuza Kiwami 3. It really develops Mine’s backstory and shows his complex feelings for Daigo. However, both this campaign’s ending and the new one in Kiwami 3 completely changed how I felt about the story. It feels unnecessary to rewrite established events just to include the Daidoji Faction. Was Mine really such a beloved character that all of this was required?

Setting aside the issues with the new actor, the way the story changed Hamazaki’s character feels like a real letdown. He seemed to be finding some redemption in Yakuza 4 through his interactions with Saejima, but this new direction undoes that. When the series director, Masayoshi Yokoyama, announced they were ending the ‘Kiwami’ remakes in favor of a new approach to these story changes, I was honestly speechless and completely confused.

Man, Ichiban Kasuga quickly became one of my absolute favorite video game characters in Yakuza 7. He actually helped me through a really tough time in my life, which is saying something. His cheerful, almost childlike personality hit me harder in just one game than Kiryu did over six! It really bums me out to see him sidelined in recent games, especially being treated like just DLC. I thought he was supposed to be the next big thing, the one to take over from Kiryu. What happened to that?

Was it necessary to change the story so drastically just to add the Daidoji Faction? Was Mine really such a beloved character that justified all these changes?

There were so many great ideas for new Yakuza (Like a Dragon) games – like continuing Akiyama’s story after Infinite Wealth, a bold game starring Seonhee, or remasters of the Kurohyou PSP titles. Instead, it feels like the developers are too focused on building a sprawling universe around the Daidoji clan, almost like their own version of the Avengers, and it’s really disappointing as a long-time fan. Honestly, I’m almost afraid to think about what they’ll do next, except for the upcoming spin-off, Stranger Than Heaven, which actually looks promising.

Gang of Dragon Could Potentially Be Special

Engraved With Nagoshi’s Signature Sauce

Okay, so if you somehow missed it, Toshihiro Nagoshi (the guy behind the Yakuza series) revealed his new game, Gang of Dragon, at The Game Awards last year, and it’s HUGE news! What’s got everyone talking is that it stars Ma Dong-seok, the incredibly popular Korean actor, and the trailer ended with a shot of the entrance to Kabukicho – which, as a Yakuza fan, I instantly recognized as the inspiration for Kamurocho! It’s really exciting to see that connection.

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I doubt Nagoshi would ever publicly criticize his former colleagues, but the timing of this announcement feels pretty perfect. The trailer itself was very direct and action-packed, almost like a low-budget Hollywood movie. While it doesn’t seem to fully follow the formula of his Yakuza games, the new game looks like it will include driving and fighting, with a focus on fast-paced gun battles.

It’s still too soon to say if this game will truly capture the spirit of the Yakuza series that fans are hoping for. No one can really replace the legacy that Nagoshi created, but given how eager fans are for a new direction, the first glimpse of ‘Gang of Dragon’ immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.

I’m simply watching how things develop with this new game. While it’s still early in development and being made by a studio now owned by NetEase, I’m cautiously hopeful about ‘Gang of Dragon.’ Plus, we still have ‘Stranger than Heaven’ coming out, which is great – it’s like getting two big games at once!

Even though it might sound like I think the Yakuza series is falling apart, the team at RGG Studio is still capable of great storytelling when they need to be. They consistently deliver touching moments between characters and manage to strike a good balance between serious drama, comedy, and action. I’m really hoping Yokoyama, the creative lead, will reconsider his direction for the series, as that seems to be the core problem right now. But honestly, that feels like a long shot at this point.

2026-02-24 17:10