It’s been a busy day in SEGA’s Yakuza camp. Not only is Yakuza 5 among the PlayStation Plus lineup for August, but we now have word that the Japanese publisher is finally ready to bring Yakuza 0 west in early 2017.
January, to be specific, when SEGA’s long-anticipated action prequel will launch exclusively for PlayStation 4. It’ll be available across physical and digital outlets.
In a post via PS Blog, Associate Localization Producer Scott Strichart revealed that, for the first time since Yakuza 2 ten years ago, all chapter titles, character introductions, opponent names, and on-screen directions will be in English, as opposed to offering subtitles to the kanji.
SEGA also champions Yakuzo 0 as a sound entry point for newcomers to the series, with the following features all included in the western release.
- The Dragon’s Origins: What lies in a man’s past defines his future, and in this case, we learn a lot about what inspires Kiryu down the paths he takes in the rest of the Yakuza series. Plus, you don’t get to be called “Dragon” without being able to knock a few heads. Combat styles can be hot-swapped during fights for some of the most intense battles in the Yakuza series to date.
- Embrace the Mad Dog: For the first time in a numbered game, long-time NPC Goro Majima is playable. With his own fighting style, abilities, and his penchant for turning sleaze into profit, stepping into the role of Yakuza’s most eccentric character will provide some eye-opening insight.
- The Decadence of the 1980s in Japan: Cash rules everything in the world of Yakuza 0, and in the game, there are a million ways to spend, make, or take money. From cash spilling out of the pockets of gang members you fight to Telephone Clubs, Disco Halls, or even Pocket Circuit car races, there are tons of ways to be a well-to-do gangster.
Having already made its debut in Japan back in 2015, Yakuza 0 will finally hit these shores in January of next year.