8" has two main characters! An outside story about Kazuma Kiryu's "afterlife" was also announced! Report on "RGG SUMMIT 2022: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio New Release Presentation"!

On September 14, 2022, information about the new Yakuza Studio, which produces the popular "Yakuza" series by Sega Games, was revealed at the "RGG SUMMIT 2022 Yakuza Studio New Release Presentation".

The presentation was delivered to Japan, North America, and other Asian countries via webcast.

First, Mr. Masayoshi Yokoyama, representative of Yakuza Studio and executive producer, took the stage.

It has been about a year since we started a new organization in November last year. It has been about a year since we announced the production of "8. The time has flown by so quickly. The development is progressing smoothly, and I am delighted because I originally wanted to make an announcement today.

Yakuza Restoration! Pole

First, a trailer video of "Yakuza Restoration! Pole" trailer video was shown.

This title was originally released in 2014 for PS4 and PS3, in which players control the character Sakamoto Ryoma, who goes by the alias "Saito Hajime," and joins the Shinsengumi. In this spin-off title, players take control of Sakamoto Ryoma, who goes by the alias "Hajime Saito" and joins the Shinsengumi. This title is a remake of the original. The game will be released on February 22, 2023, exactly nine years after the release of the previous version.

Regarding the circumstances surrounding the release of this title, Yokoyama said, "I thought it would only sell in Japan because the words used in the game are difficult (because they are related to the end of the Edo period), but I was often asked by overseas fans if I would release a "Restoration" version, and this is how it came to be.

The appeal of "Yakuza Restoration! is attractive in that it employs a sort of star system in which characters from the "Yakuza" series are applied to historical figures.

The previous versions of the series featured all-stars up to "5," but after nine years, the numbered titles have progressed to "7. Therefore, "Yakuza Restoration! Polar" will feature a revamped cast of characters, and the story will be told by an all-star cast as of 2023.

Yokoyama said that this renewal also applies to the music, "The music from the previous games in the series is used in abundance, so fans of the series can enjoy that aspect of the game, and those who are not familiar with the series can enjoy it as a new game as well," he said.

Next, the actors playing the new characters took the stage.

The three veteran actors who appeared here were Riki Takeuchi playing the role of Kanryusai Takeda, Hitoshi Ozawa playing the role of Koshitaro Ito, and Hideo Nakano playing the role of Hanpeita Takeichi. All of the characters they play are from "Yakuza0: The Place of Oath.

Riki Takeuchi

Hitoshi Ozawa

Hideo Nakano

Mr. Takeuchi, who has not appeared in the "Yakuza" series for a long time, said when he was offered the role in this film, "It's been a while, that's great, let's do it. It's a leading role, right? I thought I'm not the main actor. Well, it doesn't matter. Let's do it.

Ozawa, who has been uploading videos of his "Yakuza0" playing on his YouTube channel, was already eager to play the game, saying, "When the game comes out, I'm going to try to assimilate myself into the game and give it a try. On the other hand, after watching the trailer, he commented, "I'm not that scary.

Mr. Nakano revealed that he had several conflicts with the sound director about the direction of his performance during the recording of his voice for this game. Yokoyama expressed his appreciation for Ms. Nakano's passionate attitude, saying, "No one else would have clashed with me like that.

Yakuza8

Next, a trailer was shown for "Yakuza8," the production of which had been previously announced.

The video shows Kasuga Ichiban walking through Kamurocho and Kiryu Kazuma, whose image has changed considerably in terms of his hairstyle.

Following the meaningful video, Kazuhiro Nakatani, who plays Kasuga Ichiban, and Takaya Kuroda, who plays Kiryu Kazuma in the film, took the stage.

The two main characters of the "Yakuza" numbered title were lined up on this stage, and Mr. Yokoyama revealed that "8" will have two main characters, Kasuga Ichiban and Kiryu Kazuma.

When asked about game genres, Yokoyama replied, "'Yakuza' is based on the concept of deciding on a genre that is suitable for expressing a game. The story of "7" was to defeat a huge evil with friends, so it became a dramatic RPG. This time, too, the game is a dramatic RPG, as we are working together with our friends to achieve a certain goal. It seems that the game system will be similar to that of "7.

Kazuhiro Nakatani

As for Kazuma Kiryu, whose image has changed considerably, he said, "In a way, some people may say that he doesn't look like Kazuma Kiryu, but I'm going to depict it properly, so please imagine what it is like.

Takaya Kuroda

Mr. Kuroda, who plays Kazuma Kiryu as the main character for the first time in a long time, said, "I am very happy to be on the board after a long time. I have been working on "Yakuza" for many years, but there is no guarantee that there will be another one. I'm happy to have the opportunity to work with both of you this time.

On the other hand, Mr. Nakatani is currently in the middle of recording. When asked about the story of "8," he replied, "I am nervous. There are a lot of things I shouldn't say, so I'm going to tell you about it at ....... But as a fan, I have to say, it's outrageous! It's amazing. That's all I can say." He chose his words carefully and tried to convey the image as best he could.

Kuroda, who was sitting next to me, couldn't stop grinning. Even if I wanted to talk about it, I couldn't, but I could tell that it was interesting.

Mr. Yokoyama also commented, "The scale of "8" is incredible, so I think the game volume will be the largest ever," and "Kiryu's story is supposed to have ended with "6," but the reason why he became the main character again is because it became necessary for the story. The story is pieced together by depicting the drama of the man who carried everything in the past and the man who carried the future and everything in the future. That's why I needed Kazuma," he says, giving a hint about "8. This is something to look forward to!

The game is scheduled to be released in 2024.

Yakuza 7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

As mentioned earlier, Kazuma Kiryu will appear in "8," but I wonder "how he was connected from "6" when he appeared in "7." And I'm sure you're wondering what happened to Kazuma after ' 7⃣," said Yokoyama.

A new trailer was shown here, and "Yakuza7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" was blitzed.

The trailer suggests that Kazuma Kiryu, who became a monk after "6," is working as an underworld agent under a code name. This work is an external biography that takes place after "6" through the era of "7" and up to "8.

Since the game genre is the work of Kazuma Kiryu alone, it is in the conventional action-adventure style. However, it is not yet known whether the system will be the same as in "6" or not.

There will be some switching of fighting styles, but I can't say any more than that," Yokoyama said.

As for the volume of the game, Yokoyama said it will be about half that of the regular numbered titles, and will depict the events around Kazuma Kiryu in a compact form.

For those who have played the previous titles in the series, the game will fill in the missing link of Kazuma Kiryu, and for those who started with "7," the game will be an introduction to the personality of the legendary Kazuma Kiryu.

The game is scheduled for release in 2023. This is a game that you should definitely try before playing "8.

In closing, Yokoyama expressed his enthusiasm for the continuing "Yakuza" series, saying, "I hope people can feel the changing "Yakuza" series," and "(The new title) will be something that will surpass the past "Yakuza" series.

We will continue to keep an eye out for further news on each title.