Key Takeaways
- Yakuza Kiwami will be digital-only on Nintendo Switch, disappointing fans hoping for a physical release.
- Sega announced the surprise release on Switch during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct.
- Despite being digital-only, the game will be priced at $20, matching the cost on other platforms.
The developers of Yakuza Kiwami confirmed that the game will be a digital-only release, which may be disappointing for fans who want a physical version. Like a Dragon fans got a very big surprise during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct, where it was revealed that Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Yakuza Kiwami would be coming to Nintendo Switch. Yakuza Kiwami is the 2016 remake of the first game in the long-running series, developed as a part of the Like a Dragon franchise's 10th anniversary.
Yakuza Kiwami coming to the Nintendo Switch eight years after it first launched was a big shock, as while it originally released on PlayStation 3 and 4, and then later came to PC and Xbox One a few years later, it seemed like there were no plans for a port on Nintendo's systems. Many fans had wanted Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to bring the games to Switch for the longest time, which seemed like a pipe dream until now. Fans may want to temper their expectations a little bit, as the developers have confirmed that Yakuza Kiwami's Switch version will not have a physical release.
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This information was confirmed on Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Japanese Twitter account, stating that the Yakuza series is coming to the Nintendo Switch for the first time with the release of Kiwami. However, the message also notes that it will only be available as a digital download, with no option for a physical version. While the series has done this before, such as the Like a Dragon Gaiden spin-off only being distributed digitally in the West but getting physical versions in other regions, it appears that Sega has no plans to do a boxed physical for the release of Kiwami on Switch.
Yakuza Kiwami Will Be Digital-Only on Nintendo Switch
The lack of a physical version for Yakuza Kiwami's Switch version might be disappointing to hear for some fans, as Sega is usually good at giving gamers the option to own the game physically. The good news is that Sega is pricing Kiwami appropriately on the Switch, where it costs only $20. This matches the previous price on digital storefronts like Steam, which also costs $20.
It's not entirely out of the question that Yakuza Kiwami could get a physical version though, as companies like Limited Run Games usually create their own physical versions to sell to the most ardent fans. For example, Persona 4 Golden got a surprise physical release via Limited Run Games after it was ported to Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, so LRG could theoretically do the same for Yakuza Kiwami's Switch version. For the time being, Yakuza Kiwami will be a digital-only game on the Switch, and will launch on October 24, 2024.
Yakuza Kiwami
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Back and better than ever, the Yakuza series has been updated for modern gamers to experience the action, fun, and coolness of Kiryu and cohorts.
1995, Kamurocho… Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, takes the fall for the murder of a crime boss to protect his sworn brother, Akira Nishikiyama, and his childhood friend, Yumi.
2005… Akira Nishikiyama has become a changed man. Yumi is nowhere to be found. Ten billion yen has gone missing from the Tojo Clan's coffers, putting the organization on the brink of civil war. And Kazuma Kiryu is released from prison to a world he no longer recognizes.
With enhanced gameplay, an expanded cinematic story, the return of the battle styles from Yakuza 0, more nightlife spots, and re-recorded audio by the series cast, Yakuza Kiwami is the ultimate and most “extreme” version of the original vision of the series, now optimized for PC with 4K resolutions, uncapped frame rates, customizable controls and ultra-widescreen support.
Action
Adventure
Systems
- Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:83%
- Franchise
- Yakuza
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , PS3 , Xbox One , PC
- Released
- August 29, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sega , Deep Silver
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- ESRB
- m
- How Long To Beat
- 18 Hours
