At the TGS 2025, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio unleashed a RGG Direct livestream on fans, revealing Yakuza Kiwami 3 is official with a new game mode called Dark Ties.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has brought another new title to TGS 2025, and this time, they’re adapting 2009’s Yakuza 3 into Yakuza Kiwami 3. The rework of the game offers not only revamped systems and fresh graphics, the third Kiwami title brings a whole new game with it. In Yakuza Kiwami 3, players can experience the brand-new tale of the antagonist, Yoshitaka Mine, from Yakuza 3 in an included separate game called Dark Ties. Dark Ties will offer the entire story from both perspectives from Yakuza 3. The announcement trailer can be seen below, courtesy of SEGA.
Along with reworked visuals and quality of life improvements, fans of the series will be happy to note Kiwami 3 includes added scenes to deliver more depth and emotion to the original story, with new and enhanced side experiences that immerse you in the world of Okinawa as Kazuma Kiryu sees it. After the events of Yakuza 2, Kiryu entrusts the future of the Tojo Clan to Daigo Dojima and relocates to Okinawa with his adoptive daughter, Haruka. There, Kiryu runs an orphanage called Morning Glory, until peace is once again brought out of balance by a government redevelopment plan that threatens Okinawa. This is where Yakuza Kiwami 3 begins.
New in-game features include a new weapon-based combat style named Ryukyu Style (named after the game’s location, Okinawa). Like every Yakuza title, there’s new side quests and activities that engage with daily life at Morning Glory. Activities include: cooking, fishing, bug-catching, other mini-games, and side-stories with the orphanage kids that will showcase Kiryu’s goal to keep the orphanage up to par. There’s also a new team battle mode, where Kiryu leads customizable motorbike gangs in tactical battles (where fans can recruit the Like a Dragon protagonist, Kasuga Ichiban, as a Legendary Lad).
On the other hand, Dark Ties acts as a prequel that details the antagonist, Yoshitaka Mine’s backstory. It’s the first time Mine has been a playable character in all of Yakuza, and it’s going to deliver exactly why he became the ruthless, cynical leader he is in Yakuza 3.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 will be released on February 12, 2026, as a combined package with the Dark Ties spin-off. It will be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. Fans can find more info on the Ryu Ga Gotoku website.
Exciting news about Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the addition of the new game, ‘Dark Ties’! It’s always great to see the Yakuza series expanding and bringing fresh content to fans. Looking forward to what this new installment has to offer!
to see beloved franchises expand. I’m particularly curious about how ‘Dark Ties’ will integrate with the existing Yakuza universe. The blend of new storylines and characters could really enhance the overall experience for fans!
I share your excitement about the expansion! It’ll be interesting to see how ‘Dark Ties’ ties into the existing Yakuza storyline and what new characters or themes it might introduce. The potential for deeper lore could really enhance the overall experience for fans.
Absolutely, the connection between ‘Dark Ties’ and the main storyline could add some intriguing layers to the Yakuza universe. I’m curious if we’ll see any familiar characters or themes carried over into this new game. It’s always exciting when they expand on the lore!
I completely agree! The integration of ‘Dark Ties’ might also provide fresh perspectives on character development in the main storyline. It’s exciting to see how these new elements will enhance the overall narrative depth of Yakuza Kiwami 3!
Absolutely, the addition of ‘Dark Ties’ could really deepen our understanding of the characters’ motivations and backgrounds. It will be interesting to see how these new story elements intertwine with the existing narrative of Yakuza Kiwami 3!
That’s a great point! ‘Dark Ties’ might not only enhance character development but also explore themes of loyalty and betrayal that are central to the Yakuza series. It’s exciting to see how this new game will intertwine with the existing narrative.