At this year’s Tokyo Game Show 2025, we sat down with Ryosuke Horii, producer and director at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, to talk about two upcoming titles in Sega’s long-running crime drama franchise: Yakuza Kiwami 3 and its companion story, Yakuza 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties. From revitalized combat to deeper emotional storytelling, Horii shared how the team approached remaking a beloved classic while also delivering a bold new spin-off.

A New Fighting Style for Kiryu

One of the headline additions in Yakuza Kiwami 3 is the Ryukyu Style, a new martial art that reflects the game’s Okinawan setting. Horii explained that the team drew inspiration from Okinawa’s rich history of traditional martial arts and weapon techniques, adding a fresh layer to Kiryu’s already iconic brawler repertoire.

“It complements Kiryu’s classic street-fighting style while offering something unique to this chapter of his story,” Horii said.

Fresh Scenarios and Expanded Content

Beyond the visual overhaul, players can expect substantial new content. According to Horii, the remake goes far beyond a simple upgrade: “Even players who know the original inside and out will find a different experience just by playing through the main story.”

Entire scenarios have been rewritten or expanded, ensuring that both veterans and newcomers discover new layers in Kamurocho and Okinawa.

Development Challenges and Fan Expectations

Launching both Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties Gaiden in the same year proved to be one of RGG Studio’s toughest tasks yet. Horii acknowledged the challenge of balancing speed with quality, particularly with such a cherished entry.

“Yakuza 3 has many fans with deep emotional attachments,” he explained. “Updating beloved characters like Rikiya meant carefully modernizing his design while keeping what made him special in the original.”

Accessibility for Newcomers

Horii emphasized that Yakuza Kiwami 3 is a welcoming entry point. The game includes summaries of key events from Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2, allowing fresh players to dive in without prior knowledge. Meanwhile, series veterans will appreciate the added depth and refinements.

With the Kiwami trilogy now coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Horii sees this as the perfect gateway for a new generation of fans.

Mine’s Transformation and Dark Tides Gaiden

Perhaps the most intriguing creative decision was placing Mine Yoshitaka, the enigmatic antagonist of Yakuza 3, in the spotlight.

“Mine was one of the most popular characters,” Horii said. “When we thought about who deserved a deeper exploration, he was the obvious choice.”

Mine’s new boxing-inspired combat style reflects his calm, collected demeanor, but his explosive finishers reveal the raw, instinctual fury lurking beneath. Yakuza Kiwami 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties builds on that duality with a darker, more experimental approach to combat.

Combat Risks and a Younger Kiryu

Yakuza Kiwami 3 takes place in 2009, portraying a younger, more primal Kiryu compared to his refined, stylish fighting seen in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. This gave the team the freedom to push the combat into rawer, more aggressive territory.

In Yakuza Kiwami 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties, players will also find inventive mechanics, including combo chaining with a dedicated action button, aerial maneuvers, and platform-like enemy interactions. Horii described the challenge as making the action “extreme yet grounded,” avoiding the excess wackiness of spin-offs like Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

Returning to Yakuza’s Dark Roots

Both Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties were designed as a return to the darker tone that defined the early Yakuza games. “We wanted to bring back the heavy political drama, bloody battles, and a grittier atmosphere,” Horii explained. After the experimental detour of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, these projects realign the series with its core DNA.

Side Content, Sub-Stories, and Mini-Games

Yakuza is synonymous with quirky side content, and Yakuza Kiwami 3 doubles down. Horii highlighted Bad Boy Dragon, a flashy sub-quest where Kiryu joins eccentric allies to battle a rowdy yankee gang.

Most sub-stories have been remade or rewritten, with entirely new ones added to replace weaker moments from the original. Mini-games return as well, including bowling, carefully curated to fit the remake’s tone and setting.

Emotional Storytelling and Morning Glory

The emotional heart of Yakuza 3 has always been Morning Glory Orphanage. This time, Horii and voice actor Takaya Kuroda collaborated closely to re-record key scenes with greater emotional depth.

“The original interactions with the children lacked depth,” Horii admitted. “In Kiwami 3, those relationships are far more developed, and some of the most touching moments in the game come from Morning Glory.”

Casting, Setting, and the Future of the Series

Recasting certain roles was another risk, but Horii believed it was necessary to bring “fresh energy and image” to the story. Returning to Okinawa, meanwhile, gave the team an opportunity to expand upon a setting they had long wanted to revisit and enhance.

He also noted the importance of remaking Yakuza 3 now, before newer fans—introduced through Kiwami 1 and 2—lost interest in continuing the series thanks to the age of the original Yakuza 3.

A Message to Fans of Yakuza Kiwami 3

Horii closed the interview with a special message to Southeast Asian fans:

“With Morning Glory Life, we wanted to deliver both the heartwarming experiences with the children and the gut-wrenching struggles Kiryu faces. We hope you’ll look forward to this latest release, and we thank you very much for your support.”

As RGG Studio balances nostalgia with innovation, Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 Gaiden: Dark Ties stand as proof that the series remains unafraid to honor its past while carving new futures.

If you’re interested in Yakuza Kiwami 3, you can head on to their official website.