Yakuza 0 coming to North America on PS4

SEGA announced yesterday that Yakuza 0, the prequel tale of series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu set against the backdrop of the 1980’s, will be making its way to North America on PS4. Being released both digitally and at retail, there’s no set date for the release, but it’s certainly nice to have confirmation that we’re getting it here.

Also, Yakuza 5 now has a release date for PS3, coming out on December 8th. If you pre-order via PSN, there’s a 15% discount, so be sure to take advantage of that!

For more info on Yakuza 0, check out the official press release and media below.

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The 1980s in Japan were defined by unprecedented amounts of decadent overindulgence – and nothing was out of greed’s reach, especially in Kamurocho. A chilly but electric Tokyo in December 1988 is the backdrop for Kazuma Kiryu’s ascension into the ranks of the Yakuza – the name given to members of notorious crime organizations. And with Yakuza 0, newcomers to SEGA of America, Inc.’s Yakuza series will be able to get in on the ground floor, with the game’s standalone, story-driven action that focuses on navigating the seedy underworld of Japan with series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, and for the first time in a numbered title, players will be able to play as long-time NPC, Goro Majima – the Mad Dog of Shimano. Available on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, the game will be localized and released as physical and digital versions in the Americas.

Yakuza 0 portrays the genesis of Kazuma Kiryu, the rising Dragon of Dojima in the heyday of the economic bubble in the late 1980s. Starting off in series familiar location Kamurocho, Kiryu, a junior member of the Dojima family, gets blamed for a debt collection that ends in murder. Of course, this murder happens on a hotly coveted plot of land in Kamurocho, and Kiryu quickly finds himself in over his head trying to regain his honor and save the reputation of his savior and father figure, Shintaro Kazama.

Meanwhile, series familiar Goro Majima is living the life in Osaka, running a cabaret above board. But his desire to rejoin the Yakuza Clan he was ousted from is intense, and in order to do so, Majima must complete impossible tests set by increasingly unforgiving bosses. The clan keeps pushing his limits just to see how far he will really go to prove his loyalty…

Yakuza 0 Features:

• The Dragon’s Origins: What lies in a man’s past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don’t get to be called “Dragon” without being able to knock a few heads. Combat styles can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
• Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is now playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza’s most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
• The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to-do gangster.
• Possession is 9/10ths…: Yakuza 0 will get a physical release in the west! More details on the retail edition will come at a later date, but there will definitely be a physical release.

Yakuza 0 is being localized by SEGA of America, Inc. and will release on PlayStation 4. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit: yakuza.sega.com/yakuza0