Yakuza 3 Kiwami Release Date
So, here’s the scoop right up front: Yakuza 3 Kiwami is dropping on February 12, 2026, worldwide, and fans could hardly be more hyped. It’s the remake that many folks said would “never happen,” so when that date flashed across my feed, I definitely did a little celebratory fist pump (not kidding I nearly spilled my coffee). This isn't a vague promise or "spring 2026" nonsense; SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio locked it in at their RGG Summit, so unless a meteor hits, that's the day you’ll actually get your hands on it.
Fresh Faces, Old Streets
Yep, the game’s a full remake, no lazy remaster here. If you've played the original Yakuza 3 back in the PS3 days, you remember Kamurocho’s bright signs and Okinawa’s sunlit beaches, but in Kiwami 3, everything gets a serious facelift thanks to the Dragon Engine. It’s not just about sharper textures (though, wow, they look crisp); there’s a vibe shift, too. Kiryu’s orphanage feels more alive than ever. Even little Haruka’s footsteps seem to echo with more personality.
Just for fun, here’s a little “then vs now” rundown (not technical, just vibes):
|
Original (2009) |
Kiwami 3 (2026) |
|---|---|
|
Fuzzy neon signs |
Neon so bright you squint |
|
Janky combat physics |
Two new combat styles! |
|
Classic Kiryu run |
“Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami” stomp |
|
Minigames (ho-hum) |
Minigames bursting with side quests |
Honestly, I lost hours to the karaoke mini-game in the old Yakuza 3. If it’s any better in the remake, my productivity is doomed.
What’s Bundled
Here’s something cool: Kiwami 3 comes as a bundle with the brand-new spinoff, Yakuza 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties. It stars Yoshitaka Mine, an antagonist who always felt underused in the original. Now you get to play through his own origin story a rare treat, honestly. I always felt Mine had more drama hiding behind those sunglasses.
If you’re the pre-order type, you’ll get extra costumes and DLC right from launch. I know folks who were already queuing up digital preorders before the livestream even finished. Hardcore.
Platforms
The game’s launching on, well, everything: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 (yeah, that’s real now), and the ever-reliable PC via Steam. So if your cousin’s still clinging to a base PS4 or you just upgraded to Switch 2, everyone’s invited to the party. Unlike the days when Yakuza was PlayStation-only and Western fans had to beg for ports, this launch feels more inclusive a sign of how big the series has gotten.
