Key Takeaways
1. The Yakuza series, also known as Like a Dragon, features retro Sega mini-games, inspired by the Shenmue series.
2. Arcade games within Yakuza are unlikely to be released as standalone titles due to high production costs and a limited audience.
3. Sega’s executives acknowledge the difficulty of selling retro games individually in today’s market.
4. Yakuza integrates older titles into its franchise, allowing fans to enjoy them without the financial concerns of standalone releases.
5. Yakuza Kiwami 3 introduces several Sega Game Gear titles, expanding the retro game offerings in the series.
Sega’s Yakuza, recognized also as the Like a Dragon series, is packed with numerous mini-games, including some retro Sega classics. This idea was borrowed from the Shenmue series. Through Yakuza, gamers can experience a selection of vintage games that have subtly made their way onto modern consoles, like Daytona USA 2, The Ocean Hunter, and Toylets.
Limited Arcade Access
Sadly, these arcade games and mini-games are mostly stuck within the Yakuza franchise, leading many fans to wish for separate releases.
In a recent statement, Yutaka Ito, the technology head at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and Ryosuke Horii, the producer and director of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, confirmed that Sega isn’t planning to offer stand-alone releases anytime soon.
Ito shared his thoughts on the difficulties of bringing retro games out as standalone titles during an interview with Automaton Media, noting,
“People often say, ‘I want you to sell retro games individually,’ but I believe it would be super hard to make that a feasible business in today’s market. Sega is a large company, and the expenses to release even just one game is high. If other companies want to license Sega games, they are welcome to reach out to us.”
Financial Constraints
Horii also shared his perspective on the economic aspects of selling retro games individually and mentioned the relatively small audience for such titles. He stated,
“If we were to sell older games on their own, we couldn’t set high prices, and we’d be limited in how many people we could reach. On the flip side, because these games are part of the bigger Yakuza series, we can include older titles without worrying about those business issues.
By reviving these titles through Yakuza, I think we’re contributing something important, almost like giving back to gaming culture.”
Ito also talked about the NAOMI arcade board, the Dreamcast’s arcade counterpart, which functions as an in-game emulator allowing players to enjoy arcade games such as Slashout (2000), Emergency Call Ambulance (1999), and Magical Truck Adventure (1998).
He remarked, “This is the first time we’ve added an emulator for the NAOMI arcade board, and since NAOMI works with the Dreamcast, it’s possible that Dreamcast games could eventually be playable in Yakuza.”
New Additions in Yakuza Kiwami 3
Yakuza Kiwami 3 also introduces several Sega Game Gear titles for the first time, including Sonic Chaos, Sonic Drift, Streets of Rage, Pac-Man, and Mappy, among others.
Check out Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on Amazon here.
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