Key Takeaways
- Sega may bring more Yakuza games to Nintendo Switch after Yakuza Kiwami’s success.
- Yakuza Kiwami’s Switch release selling well, surpassing expectations.
- Issues like lower resolution and FPS on Switch may improve with a more powerful successor.
A recent survey has suggested that Sega wants to bring more Yakuza games onto the Nintendo Switch. The Like a Dragon series, formerly known as Yakuza, finally made its debut on the Nintendo Switch platform this past October with the release of Yakuza Kiwami. First released in 2016, Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the very first game on the PS2. The release of Kiwami on the Switch marks the second time the series has been released on a Nintendo platform: the previous Yakuza release was the 2013 Japan-only HD collection port for the Wii U that included the first two games in the franchise, the package being titled Ryu ga Gotoku 1 & 2 HD for Wii U.
The release of Yakuza Kiwami on the Nintendo Switch has been doing pretty well, according to Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega. Reportedly, the Switch version of Yakuza Kiwami was “selling like hotcakes,” and that it was performing better than expected. Despite Yakuza Kiwami being over eight years old, the fact that it is selling better than expected is quite an encouraging sign for the series on Switch. It appears that Sega wants to capitalize on Kiwami‘s sales success, if a recent survey is to be believed.
Related
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Seems to Solidify One Trend from Gaiden
The core locations of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii have been revealed, and one area seems to offer a solid link between the game and Gaiden.
Sega has opened a survey on its official website (translation of the questions by Joseki100 on the r/NintendoSwitch subreddit), conducting this survey for those who bought Yakuza Kiwami. While the survey is open worldwide, it’s in Japanese. Based on rough translations of this survey, it asks the standard marketing questions about their impressions regarding Yakuza Kiwami on the Switch, and what they would rate it. The survey then asks whether players would like to see other Yakuza games come to Nintendo’s current platform, along with any specific feedback about Kiwami on the Switch.
Yakuza Kiwami Could Pave the Way for More Games on the Nintendo Switch
The survey specifically asks if the player would like to buy future Yakuza games, along with any platforms they would purchase the next game, with the Nintendo Switch included as an option. The Switch being included as an option could be an encouraging sign that Sega is planning on porting more Yakuza titles to the system, or even consider the Switch as a target platform, though this is speculation for now.
The Yakuza Kiwami Switch port isn’t without its problems, however. The main points of contention is the Switch’s weaker hardware, with gamers noting lower resolution and inconsistent FPS. That said, Nintendo is preparing a successor to the Switch, which, according to various leaks, will reportedly be more powerful than the current console. As such, Yakuza Kiwami could lead to a successful future on the Switch 2 with ports of games like Yakuza 0 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon on the system.
Yakuza
Sega’s Yakuza franchise is a series of action-adventure and role-playing games that revolve around characters who are a part of or associated with dangerous criminal organizations.
The various games in the series tend to be led by gripping, emotional narratives but are supplemented by hilarious side stories and enjoyable mini-games that give players a welcome break from the drama.