Your eyes didn’t deceive you if you tuned in to today’s Inside Xbox Livestream. That most definitely was Yakuza: Like a Dragon / Yakuza 7, which until now wasn’t confirmed for a North America release, and the Xbox One (and PC) no less.
Now I’m sure many of you are just as confused, yet as ecstatic as we are about this happening. For those who’ve followed the Yakuza series, this was mainly a PlayStation exclusive until the past two years when the Yakuza Zero and Kiwami games made an appearance on the PC (Steam). Not too long after, they made the jump to the Xbox One, still lagging behind the PlayStation 4 which still had Yakuza 5, 6, while Yakuza: Like a Dragon released earlier this year in Japan.
Yet, somehow Xbox pulled off what many considered the impossible and were able to get Sega to publish Yakuza 7 on the Xbox One/Xbox Series X. Going further, this will be on the Xbox and PC on day one, whenever that is. Xbox also apparently has the marketing rights for the title as well, which begs to ask was PlayStation sleeping at the wheel for this one?
As for the Xbox version, Sega has already confirmed that it will support cross-save for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X versions, as well as Smart Delivery. There news yet on if this will also make it to Xbox Game Pass, similar to Yakuza Zero and the Kiwami titles.
I don’t think people understand how HUGE of a deal this is. It’s a Japanese title that was once exclusive to PlayStation, now heading to Xbox and one launch day. This also could open the doors to even more once exclusive Sega titles for the Xbox, say, for example, Persona. Sure, I’m grasping at straws on that one, but can you blame me? Either way, as a gamer this is great news. So let’s end it with this; Yakuza 7 is coming to PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC when it years in North America. Tell me that’s not exciting news.
As for Yakuza: Like a Dragon / Yakuza 7, this title is a bit of an oddball. Unlike the previous titles in the series, this new entry changes things up by replacing the beat ’em mechanics that we’re used to and drops in a new turn-based system. To which has been mildly successful, according to the Japanese reviews and word of mouth from those who’ve played the game. As for us, we’ve been following the game for a while and we can’t wait to check it out.
Update: The Steam store page for Yakuza: Like a Dragon is now live, here.
Now, when’s Yakuza 6 coming to Xbox and PC, Sega?