Two games, one package, and a bold new direction for a classic story.

At the recent RGG Summit 2025, Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio finally made the rumors official: Yakuza Kiwami 3 is real, and it’s bringing a massive new spin-off, Dark Ties, along for the ride. This two-in-one package, set to launch on February 12, 2026, promises to be the definitive way to experience one of Kazuma Kiryu’s most emotional chapters.

The announcement is a cornerstone of the Like a Dragon series’ 20th-anniversary celebration, offering both a ground-up remake of the 2009 PlayStation 3 title and an entirely new narrative exploring the backstory of a key antagonist.

A Legend Reborn: What is Yakuza Kiwami 3?

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is not a simple remaster. The developers at RGG Studio have rebuilt the game from the ground up using their latest Dragon Engine technology, following the “Kiwami” tradition established by the remakes of the first two Yakuza games.

The game continues the story of former yakuza legend Kazuma Kiryu, who has left the violent streets of Kamurocho behind to run the Morning Glory orphanage in the sunny paradise of Okinawa. The plot kicks into gear when both the government and the yakuza set their sights on the orphanage’s valuable beachfront property, forcing Kiryu to fight once more to protect his newfound family.

Key Enhancements and New Features:

• Expanded Narrative: The team has added new cutscenes and re-recorded voice lines to provide more depth to the relationships between Kiryu, his allies like Rikiya, and his enemies. Some story moments have been altered with “different developments and outcomes.”
• Reimagined Combat: Players can swap between two powerful fighting styles:
  • Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami: A refined version of Kiryu’s classic brawling style, boasting the largest number of attack techniques in the series’ history.
  • Ryukyu Style: A brand-new, technical weapon-based style inspired by traditional Okinawan martial arts, allowing for combos with eight different weapons.
• New Side Content: A new life sim element lets players experience daily life at the orphanage with activities like cooking, fishing, and bug-catching. The “Legendary Baddie, Bad Boy Dragon” mode is a team battle experience where Kiryu builds a biker gang to fight alongside the “Ryukyu Gal Gang.”

A New Legacy Begins: The Dark Ties Spin-Off

Perhaps the most exciting part of the announcement is Dark Ties, a standalone game included in the package that puts players in the shoes of Yoshitaka Mine, the primary antagonist of the original Yakuza 3.

This story serves as a prequel, depicting how Mine, once the successful head of a venture company, plummeted into the dark world of the yakuza by choice after losing everything. The narrative focuses on his search for unwavering bonds, shedding light on the events that shaped him into the formidable foe Kiryu faces.

Playing as Mine: Key Features of Dark Ties:

• Boxing-Centric Combat: Mine’s fighting style is described as stylish and refined, centered around boxing. He also has a special ability called “Dark Awakening,” which unleashes his inner darkness for a ruthless assault on enemies.
• Kamurocho Setting: The game takes place in the familiar fictional Tokyo district, allowing players to see its streets from a new perspective.
• “Hell’s Arena”: An underground fight club featuring various unique rules. The “Survival Hell” mode tasks players with fighting through a dungeon-like environment against relentless assaults.

The studio emphasizes that Dark Ties is a separate game, not a mode within Kiwami 3. Upon starting the software, players will be able to choose which of the two experiences they want to play first.

Release Details & Pre-Order Bonuses

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties will launch on February 12, 2026 (or February 11 on Steam), for a wide array of platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.

Pre-ordering either the physical or digital standard edition will reward players with the exclusive “Ryukyu Gal Gang – Ichiban Legendary Lad” DLC, which adds fan-favorite hero Ichiban Kasuga to the team battle mode.

A Digital Deluxe Edition will also be available, including:

• Legendary Outfit Pack
• Legendary Lads & Gals Pack (adding more characters to the side mode)
• Ryukyu Gal Gang Customization Pack
• Flip Phone Customization Pack
• Legendary BGM CD Set

Catch Up Before 2026

For those looking to catch up on Kiryu’s story before the new release, RGG Studio is making it easy. Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 13, 2025, and will be released in a double-pack for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 8, 2025. The Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut will also end its Switch 2 exclusivity and arrive on other platforms on December 8.

The announcement of Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties shows that RGG Studio is committed to both honoring its past and aggressively innovating, delivering what promises to be the most content-rich package in the Kiwami series to date.

Will you be exploring both sides of this story when it drops in 2026? Let us know on nineinchsandwich.com!