For a long stretch, the Yakuza, now known as Like a Dragon, series remained a staple for PlayStation enthusiasts. From its first release in 2005 to Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, fans could only experience these tales on Sony consoles. However, in the last few years, Sega has changed its tune, embracing a broader range of platforms for this beloved series. Back in 2019, they gave PC gamers a treat with Yakuza Kiwami, a remake that previously only graced the PS4. This was just the beginning, as Sega went on to bring almost every PS4 Like a Dragon installment to PC and Xbox One by the time 2020 and 2021 rolled around.
These days, Like a Dragon enjoys simultaneous releases on PlayStation, Xbox, and also PCs. Unfortunately, Nintendo players aren’t quite in on this action yet. While Sega recently added Yakuza Kiwami to the Nintendo Switch lineup, other entries from the series, including the anticipated Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, are skipping the platform for now. Although the series isn’t fully integrated into Nintendo’s ecosystem, the success of the Switch’s latest port might just nudge Sega to consider launching future games on Nintendo consoles from the get-go.
In light of Nintendo Switch’s immense success—boasting over 146 million units sold by November 2024—it seems curious that Sega hasn’t fully capitalized on this market. Masoyoshi Yokoyama, the head honcho at Like a Dragon’s development studio, Ryu Ga Gotoku, shed some light on this in 2022. He revealed that the team had some reservations about the Switch’s suitability for their games, viewing it as too child-friendly for the mature themes of the Like a Dragon series. RGG Studio staff claimed to be “people of the night world,” considering their series not quite a match for the console’s younger demographic.
These remarks were puzzling to many, especially given the assortment of mature games already thriving on the Switch. However, Yokoyama did acknowledge that the perception of Nintendo’s console was evolving. Perhaps the tide was turning, and they’d revisit their decision in the future. Now that Yakuza Kiwami has made its Switch debut and is reportedly doing well, Yokoyama’s concerns about the series’ appeal to Nintendo users might have been misplaced.
With the strong reception of Yakuza Kiwami on the Switch, Sega seems poised to explore more opportunities there, asking fans directly through a survey if they want additional titles from the series on the console. Getting more games like Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami 2 would be fantastic for Switch users, but Sega could do even more to tap into this market’s potential. For a complete impact, they should aim for simultaneous releases across platforms.
Ideally, Sega can make an effort to ensure Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and other upcoming titles land on the Switch the same day as their PlayStation and Xbox counterparts. It’s set for a launch on PS4 and Xbox One come February 2025, so with some smart adaptation, getting it on the Switch isn’t entirely out of the question. If that doesn’t work, shifting focus to the next iteration of Nintendo consoles, perhaps the Switch 2, might be the way forward, ensuring it stands shoulder to shoulder with PlayStation and Xbox in receiving new releases.
