Hey everyone! Aaron Webber here again – some of you may remember me from the Valkyria Chronicles 2 blog post a while back. This time, I have the privilege of bringing you guys some more exciting news – news that I know many of you are about to be extremely excited about!

After months upon months of requests, a myriad of rumors, and even full campaigns that speak to the unparalleled dedication of the fans, we can finally speak those words that all of you have been waiting anxiously to hear. So, here they are:

Yakuza 3 is coming West.

Featuring the original all-star Japanese voice cast and subtitled in English, Yakuza 3 chronicles the next steps in the life of the man once known as the Dragon of Dojima – Kiryu Kazuma.

As Kiryu works to begin a new life running an orphanage in Okinawa, the world he left behind in Tokyo also moves quickly. When the chairman of the Tojo clan is shot and the rivalry between the families plunges the city into chaos, even Okinawa is not far enough away to escape the grasp of the mysterious forces pulling the strings.

Then, when one of Kiryu’s close friends in Okinawa is found with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, things take a new turn for the worse. Driven to protect his friends, the Dragon is alive again – Kiryu returns to the dark city of Kamurocho, and will stop at nothing to find those responsible and give them his own taste of justice.

Releasing March 2010, the epic Yakuza saga continues, exclusively on the Playstation 3.

Last but not least, we’d like to give special thanks to you guys, the Yakuza fans! Your passion and dedication has helped make this a reality, and we’d like to extend that thanks by letting you submit questions to the Yakuza 3 development team in Japan! To do so, just put *Dev Question* before typing your question here in the comments.

Until next time – we’ll have lots more news and in-depth looks at what Yakuza 3 has to offer very soon. Spread the word – Yakuza 3 is coming!

Fuck yes!!! It's about time!

Nagoshi had said as much last week during the Professor Layton premiere, it's great to have confirmation though. I hope it does well and the fourth game gets announced down the line also.

Woot! Best news I heard all day!

Sorry SEGA. Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me.

GiantBomb should hire him

I am absolutely shocked somebody funded an American release for this game.
 
I mean it's awesome, but I never thought it would happen.

" This sounds extremely promotional, who do you work for? "

Awesome!  Add another game to my 2010 list of buys.  March 2010, hmm...isn't that when Final Fantasy XIII drops, as well?  Another hectic month, just like this past November.

Oh man I am so excited all of a sudden

" This sounds extremely promotional, who do you work for? "

" @Whisperkill said:

" This sounds extremely promotional, who do you work for? "

He posted what was written on the Playstation Blog, which is a promotional (/very informative for Playstation fans) blog. What do you expect?  Aside, absolutely fantastic news. Thanks SEGA. Thanks so much.  Hopefully they'll be a bit quicker with Yakuza 4. Don't want English voice actors, subtitles are absolutely fine! "

Yes, im glad I never got round to importing it now.  
Great news. 
 
Edit: Anyone think its worth importing "Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan!" The one set in feudal Japan.

Is there a chance that Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! will make it's way over at some point?

" @get2sammyb said:

" @Whisperkill said:

" This sounds extremely promotional, who do you work for? "

He posted what was written on the Playstation Blog, which is a promotional (/very informative for Playstation fans) blog. What do you expect?  Aside, absolutely fantastic news. Thanks SEGA. Thanks so much.  Hopefully they'll be a bit quicker with Yakuza 4. Don't want English voice actors, subtitles are absolutely fine! "

I've been holding out on a PS3 as of yet but this is really what I've been looking for since Shenmue isn't coming out anytime soon.   But...with this announcement maybe they would be willing to take a risk and put out Shenmue 3. Maybe.. >_> "

Wait...the dragon of Dojima? OMGOMGOMG
 
Persona of Hierophant arcana?

Good news, but this is not going to sell.
Especially with a March release date..

" @PhilESkyline said:

" @get2sammyb said:

" @Whisperkill said:

" This sounds extremely promotional, who do you work for? "

He posted what was written on the Playstation Blog, which is a promotional (/very informative for Playstation fans) blog. What do you expect?  Aside, absolutely fantastic news. Thanks SEGA. Thanks so much.  Hopefully they'll be a bit quicker with Yakuza 4. Don't want English voice actors, subtitles are absolutely fine! "

I've been holding out on a PS3 as of yet but this is really what I've been looking for since Shenmue isn't coming out anytime soon.   But...with this announcement maybe they would be willing to take a risk and put out Shenmue 3. Maybe.. >_> "

I wish.... I WISH. We can always pray for Shenmue 3 right?  Yakuza 3 will do very nicely for now, mind! :) "

about damn time

" Good news, but this is not going to sell. Especially with a March release date.. "

"

"

" Good news, but this is not going to sell. Especially with a March release date.. "

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" Good news, but this is not going to sell. Especially with a March release date.. "

It's already done 500,000 in Japan though, which is probably a return on their investment-ish right? I mean, how much does it cost to stick in some subtitles and translate it all. I'm not belittling the task, I'm sure it's expensive, but I mean, I'm just saying, even if it only does like, what, 300,000 in the West - surely that'd be enough?  I doubt it's shooting for huge figures. Although I do agree, March is a silly time for them. "

March 2010... month of the forever.

 I am already buying Battlefield: Bad Company 2, God of War 3, Final Fantasy XIII, and importing GT5... and I will gladly add this to the list. It took a while, but it's finally coming. Fuck YES.

Now why would you try to compete with a cult favorite PS3 exclusive against one of the biggest PS3 exclusives?

Yakuza is highly overrated, but you'll learn that soon enough.

Weird, I should be happy and excited but I feel more angry.... It's about fucking time!

I would personally like to see some type of rerelease of the first two games, either in some PS3 compilation ( God of War Collection) or as a downloadable release. 
 
The first game was hindered by dubbing that was all over the place, the second game was quietly released and not a ton of people know it actually existed. This franchise needs a second chance to say the least.

YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!
 
I mean...I'm happy :)

" Yakuza is highly overrated, but you'll learn that soon enough"  

Anyone play the Japanese version? I haven't played any of the previous Yakuza titles, but that long trailer for this game that came out about a year or so ago made it look amazing. Looking at some gameplay videos it looks like a lot of martial arts-ish fighting. Is there more to it? Or do you just walk around and kick the crap out of people?

" Now why would you try to compete with a cult favorite PS3 exclusive against one of the biggest PS3 exclusives? "

" @ChineseTea said:

" Now why would you try to compete with a cult favorite PS3 exclusive against one of the biggest PS3 exclusives? "

I'm lost? Wha-? It's hardly competing with God Of War III is it?  Q1/Q2 is stacked though. I do agree. I mean PS3 exclusives alone it's: MAG, Heavy Rain, White Knight Chronicles, Yakuza 3, God Of War III and, maybe, Gran Turismo 5. I know it's a similar story for XBOX aswell. And it's not like third-party titles are shallow either (not forgetting the small matter of FFXIII) - there are tons of them.  I dunno why people were praising all the holiday delays. The start of next year is even worse. It's crazy. Something has to give. "

FUCK YES @ this news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

" I'm lost? Wha-? It's hardly competing with God Of War III is it?

Yakuza is highly overrated, but you'll learn that soon enough.

Is there more to it? Or do you just walk around and kick the crap out of people?

I never played the first two, but I'm very interested in trying out Yakuza 3. Hopefully the first two entries in the series will get some sort of PSN release soon so that I can catch up.

The important part is that it is exclusive to the PS3.

Whoooo HOOOOO. 
 
Fuck yeah, you are the bringer of ashum news kung fu. 
 
You win one internet cookie!

I might have to buy Yakuza 1 and 2 now that I know Sega is still somewhat committed to releasing the other ones outside of Japan.  Either way, awesome news.  

" Awesome!  Add another game to my 2010 list of buys.  March 2010, hmm...isn't that when Final Fantasy XIII drops, as well?  Another hectic month, just like this past November. "

What are these games like? Any similarities to Shenmue? It just looks kinda Shenmue-y. Is it like open world?

@xyzygy: Action-RPG is the category Yakuza best fits into. The only Shenmue-y aspect is the fighting system but that's really the only similarity gameplay-wise. Also, Yakuza isn't open world in the sense that GTA is. It's structured more like a RPG, with defined areas to mess around in. 

Great news. I hope the marketing is there for this game, because it is great and much better than the previous games. Also, it isn't mundane like Shenmue is, it is more of an action game.

" Nagoshi had said as much last week during the Professor Layton premiere, it's great to have confirmation though. I hope it does well and the fourth game gets announced down the line also. "