Yakuza Could Be Flirting with the PlayStation Vita in the Future

Dragon of Dojima

by Sammy Barker Tue 28th May 2013

There are few nights where we don’t weep at the lack of Yakuza 5 in our lives. The hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 adventure launched in Japan last year, but still hasn’t received a western release. Despite this, the series is still massively popular in its native market – and in a recent interview with an Eastern publication, series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi hinted that the brand could be coming to the PlayStation Vita.

While the details are sketchy, a Kotaku translation of the back-and-forth notes that the producer replied “affirmatively” to the notion of the franchise popping up on Sony’s portable. Nagoshi also reiterated that the series belongs on PlayStation – despite the recent announcement of Yakuza 1 & 2 HD for the Nintendo Wii U. "It isn't jumping ship to Nintendo hardware," he said. "Yakuza 1 & 2 are coming out on the Wii U, and this is what it is."

Of course, with publisher SEGA seemingly done with the franchise overseas, it’s hard to get excited over the prospect of any Yakuza game at the moment. We so desperately want to play an English translation of the latest instalment in the series, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely by the day. Excuse us while we get back to crying ourselves to sleep.

[source youtube.com, via kotaku.com]

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.

1
ShogunRok
Tue 28th May 2013

Yakuza 5 PS3/Vita cross-play, cross-buy. Yeah, I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep, too.

2
Madd_Hatter401
Tue 28th May 2013

This would be AWESOME!!! I am hoping for shenmue and shenmue 2 HD but this would be just as good. I hope this happens its a perfect game for the vita

3
rastamadeus
Wed 29th May 2013

Amazing what happens when things aren't translated properly. Before anybody gets too excited, Yakuza Vita is not happening. He actually replied "affirmatively" to the series continuing on Sony platforms, as in the PS4. Sega can't afford to throw their money away when it wouldn't even begin to make back what it cost on Vita. They also wouldn't make a Yakuza game for a handheld when it couldn't be a proper Yakuza game, as Nagoshi says in the interview. Sorry, folks.

4
get2sammyb
Wed 29th May 2013

@rastamadeus But...

Untitled

5
rastamadeus
Wed 29th May 2013

@get2sammyb He was asked about a 3DS version and his actual words are that it would have to have a living, thriving city to be real and that just isn't possible on a handheld (handheld, not 3DS). He also says if the game couldn't be a full proper Yakuza the team wouldn't make it.

6
Sanquine
Wed 29th May 2013

@rastamadeus Investment in the wii u -> exclusive sonic game makes no sense ... So a vita yukuza possible

7
rastamadeus
Wed 29th May 2013

@Sanquine The Wii U will pick up once the big three (Mario, Zelda and Mario Kart) arrive and Sonic games sell better on Nintendo machines (almost half of Sonic Racing Transformed sales were on the Wii U alone) and they're also coming to 3DS so it's actually perfect business sense. Plus if you look at the Sonic Lost World trailer it's quite obvious Nintendo are assisting in development. A Yakuza title, however, would cost much more than a Sonic game to make - probably than all three Sonic games to make - so unless Sega and the Vita's fortunes swing dramatically then a new Yakuza won't happen.