Regular readers will know that the Yakuza series is very near and dear to our hearts here at Push Square. We've been singing the series' praises since the days of the PlayStation 2, and (hopefully) without sounding too smug about it, we're really happy to see the franchise finally catch on with a wider audience here in the West.
But we may not even be in this situation if it wasn't for Sony. According to Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, Sony was the only member of the Big Three that didn't reject the very first Yakuza game. Both Microsoft and Nintendo weren't interested.
“I’ve never said this before, but while we released this game with Sony, I’d done presentations about it to Microsoft and Nintendo," Nagoshi told Edge. "Back then they said 'No we don’t want it.' Now they say, 'We want it!' (laughs) They didn’t understand the reason why I created it."
We're always quick to praise Sony for its willingness to jump on new ideas -- especially when it comes to its own intellectual properties -- but its decision to embrace Yakuza all those years ago is something we'll always be grateful for.
Can you imagine a world without Kazuma Kiryu?
[source gamesradar.com, via dualshockers.com]
Comments 34
I've lived in a world without Kiryu. It's a sad world.
I was a late Yakuza discoverer, 0 was my first instantly bought 1 when it came to PS4 now I plan to play it all in order
So glad Sony gave the OK to Yakuza. It's such a great series.
Funny how Microsoft and Nintendo both rejected the idea at the beginning, but after seeing how popular the series is now, they want it.
Imagine all the games we wouldn't have if Sony would've rejected them? Especially if they were the last out of the three that was presented with the idea.
let this be yet another reminder that sony is perhaps the most developer friendly gaming company out there despite what the pro cross play articles say.
that positive rep they have with all sorts of devs comes from somewhere afterall.
without PlayStation .video gameas wouldbe horrible.never was a big fan of Nintendo growing up.l💜ve my sega genesis.microsoft😴.been a fan of sony PlayStation since day 1 in 1995.PlayStation is the best ever.thanks to ps1 inthe beginning.like crash.syphon filter.medievil.parasite eve.PlayStation is a game changer in tbe industry.word up son
@RogerRoger YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED IT YET?
even heavy rain was rejected by microsoft, im glad they did
Well that's their loss
Funny how their interested when it's become successful. Especially xbox, always following the trends instead of making them.
The series could branch out to other consoles some day but I will always buy the games on PlayStation. That won’t change.
Sony consoles have a good reputation of having all kinds of games for all kinds of gamers it's the go to console for anyone even publishers unlike Nintendo that is known for been too kid friendly and Xbone for only shooters😂, and it's not like they don't have anything else but that's their image that they earn through time
That’s because Sony is... perfect.
The other 2 are failures & incompetent companies also very arrogant. When people say Sony is arrogant look at the other 2 they stomp Sony in terms of arrogance.
"Can you imagine a world without Kazuma Kiryu"
No. And i am very glad i don't need to. Im gunna miss him if his story truly is done (not started y6 yet). Truly a wonderful series.
This is exactly why i will always love Sony. Whilst microsoft were chasing the dudebro market, Sony have always invested in unique titles and they are now reaping the rewards. And nintendo..well, apparently the remakes on 1 amd 2 released on the wii u sold dreadfully, and whilst that can in part be attributed to dismal sales of that console, i guess yakuza speaks to a market that, at least at the time, wasnt found on a nintendo console
Thank goodness the series finally caught on in the west. The only problem now is keeping up!!
Not only yakuza but quantic dream heavy rain too, only sony want QD to make heavy rain. While nintendo treat games as toys, and microsoft treat games as software, sony regard games as art, like movies and books.
Well in, Sony. If it wasn't for Yakuza 0, I wouldn't have been sat in my mate's whiskey bar yesterday sipping some fine Yamazaki Japanese whiskey. Probably.
Thats one of the main things I like about Sony there happy to give all sorts of games a go played some very unique stuff thanks to them some of the highlights include the Yakuza games and games such as parappa the rapper, Vib Ribbon and even stuff like Gal gun
@FullbringIchigo i haven't played it yet either... DON'T @ ME! Haha
@Sir_JBizzle
I own several Yakuza games (first one was 3 on ps3) but haven't gotten around to playing them.
One day this will change. One day...
Sony elevated games to a medium that is taken serious, while Nintendo serves the family friendly crowd (which is awesome) and Microsoft the brogamer (less so).
I believe that if Sega remained in the console business, they would of also have been great innovators. I mean come on, they practically made a switch like handheld/console hybrid in the 90s! So happy they're games are back on track with Yakuza, Valkyria4, sonic mania and shenmue hd.
I wish I had friends who appreciated the Yakuza series as much as I do.
@Deadlyblack IKR that seems to be what MS and Nintendo, reject good ideas at the start then bandwagon them when they're popular. Didn't Quantic Dream offer Heavy Rain to MS 1st but they turned it down? Or am I remembering wrong?
EDIT: @Wiiware beat me to it 😂
I'm going to give YAKUZA 0 a go soon. Soon as I buy it. I hope I like it, I don't know what to make of it. It's confusing when you haven't played it and can't really see the fun in it.
Good for us! Yakuza is amazing <3
I wish they picked up Bayonetta as well cause while I am very happy We can play new games of the franchise thanks to the big N, it screams Sega/Sony and it would definitely feel, look and sell better on PS.
@wiiware more like those companies treat thier IPs like doo doo at least Sony respects thier devs & IPs...
Thank goodness I own Zero, Kiwami!
I've also never played/bought the games, but that's more because the genre doesn't interest me.
@B-I-G-DEVIL Same here. Yakuza Kiwami 2 preordered
But those other console gamers are foolishly mad about crossplay. Thanks Sony.
@Deadlyblack thats how we got games like heavy rain to because microsoft rejected it
Oh my God Fortnite has no crossplay on the PS4 but we do have Yakuza. 😃
@Ps4_all_the_way The story is definitely the reason why you play it. It's weird cause I'm a gameplay first, story second kind of guy, but the story makes the game.
I just bought Yakuza 0 to get into the series. But I've always thought Sony when I thought Yakuza. So I am grateful Sony loved taking on new ideas. Their one of the best publishers for it.
To be honest this has been my mind all the time when I see people rage to Sony about games being exclusives and not porting to PC. While Ican understand they take them hostage, as they say, Sony were the only one wjo gives them financial support and all around "Ok you can create the game" most of the time to the devs to begin with. There are lots of Devs that are at loss like Yakuza for never seeing a light of day or up and coming Devs who needs help and boost for their game to come into fruitation. They might be attacked esp recently about Cross-play, Sony have done ALOT of good things to us PS Players than bad for a long time. I cant even still believe this came to PC and even though Im proud to be a Playstation owner, I cant be comfortable with saying it out loud around to PC Master Race people
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