Yakuza Kiwami 2 launched in Japan this past December, and Sega has now confirmed a western release date for the much-anticipated remake.
A remastered version of the 2006 title Yakuza 2 for the PlayStation 2, the game is scheduled to release this coming Aug. 28. It is developed using the Dragon Engine, which was used to create Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, meaning Yakuza Kiwami 2 is still the original game, but with updated graphics, fully remade visuals, and a revamped combat system.
Additionally, the original cutscenes and key voice lines have been re-recorded for the modern generation. There's also a bunch of new features added to the game, such as minigames and, more importantly, a brand-new campaign featuring Goro Majima as a playable character.
Sega Promises 'Extreme Localization' For 'Yakuza Kiwami 2'
Yakuza Kiwami 2's localization team has obviously been hard at work porting the game for western audiences. Sega confirms so in a news release, promising "extreme localization" for the game. Just for perspective, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life took nearly three years to be ported to the west — Yakuza Kiwami 2 is making it stateside just less than a year after launching in its home country.
"We've gone through the Yakuza Kiwami 2 script with a fine-toothed comb; every effort has been made to ensure that it's the most faithful representation of the original Japanese," the game developer and publisher said.
On a related note, the next game in the Yakuza franchise, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, launches on PlayStation 4 this coming April. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is also an exclusive PS4 release, which might be a bummer for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch fans.
Make sure to watch the announcement trailer below. The revamped visuals look astonishing when compared to the original PS2 graphics, that much is certain. But more importantly, Yakuza fans in the west are probably even more pumped to see how the game runs under the more modern Dragon Engine.
Yakuza Kiwami 2
The game follows ex-yakuza protagonist Kazuma Kiryu a year after he leaves the Tojo Clan. He is suddenly called back when Yukio Terada, the clan's Fifth Chairman, gets murdered by assassins from Omi Alliance, a rival organization. Kiryu must find a new chairman for the clan to prevent a disastrous war between Tojo and Omi from occurring.
Thrilled for Yakuza Kiwami 2? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
