An enhanced and expanded HD remake of the original Yakuza game is headed to PS3 and PS4 on the 21st of January 2016. The game is called Ryu Ga Gotoku Kiwami and features enhanced graphics with more scenarios and mini games.
Also announced is the sixth game in the franchise. Not much has been revealed other than that it’s due to release on PS4 exclusively in Japan in autumn 2016.
There is currently no word on whether either game will make it to the West. Yakuza 5 is due to release digitally on PS3 soon.
UPDATE
The Ryu Ga Gotoku Kiwami trailer is available below:
SEGA Japan have revealed a new physical collection of SEGA 3D remasters for 3DS called SEGA 3D Reprint Archives 2.
The new collection rounds up 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, 3D Galaxy Force II, 3D Thunder Blade, 3D Altered Beast and 3D Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa while also adding new ports of 3D Power Drift and 3D Puyo Puyo 2. The cover artwork was also drawn once again by Ken Sugimori of Pokemon fame.
SEGA 3D Reprint Archives 2 will be a Japan-only 3DS release. There is currently no word on a release date.
A new article on Kotaku has revealed some interesting information about a 1989 SEGA arcade racing game called SEGA Super Circuit.
The 8 player racing game was located in the Tokyo Roof Complex in Yokohama and was controlled via altered Out Run cabinets that are hooked up to remote control cars with cameras attached to them. You can watch it in action below:
Not much information about its existence or what happened to it is available online so this is a very cool little oddity that deserves further exposure.
As part of the 15th anniversary celebrations of Phantasy Star Online, SEGA are releasing Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation and you can get your first look at the anime below:
As per usual the Western PSO audience are delighted by this and they’ve left some charming comments like:
“We’ll probably be able to watch this before the game itself is localized…”
“localize the fucking game i dont like getting cucked by u sega”
“where is th us psvita phantasy star oline 2”
Phantasy Star Online 2 is making the big move from PC to console in Japan next year.
A PS4 version is currently in the works but there’s no word on whether this will be a boxed product or a free-to-play download like the PC version. Other MMORPGs that have seen PS4 release like Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn have been sold as a boxed product but this game works on a subscription service with the purchase of a boxed copy essentially signing you up for 30 days.
There is still no word on a Western release for Phantasy Star Online 2 on either PC or PS4. There was a glimmer of hope when the IP block on the Southeast Asian version was removed but this was only temporary. SEGA have still yet to announce any sort of cancellation either.
SEGA Japan CEO Hajime Satomi has recognised an issue with SEGA’s recent game output and a decrease in quality vs the SEGA output of the 90s.
In a very honest interview that pledges to ‘win back the customers’ trust’, Satomi also reveals that a big home console game announcement is due at September’s Tokyo Game Show. Could this be the next big Sonic title?
Satomi’s words are below:
“We did our best to build a relationship of mutual trust with older fans of SEGA, but looking back, there’ve been some titles that have partially betrayed that in the past 10 years. Sega in the ’90s was known for its brand, but after that, we’ve lost trust, and we were left with nothing but reputation. For this reason, we’d like to win back the customers’ trust, and become a ‘brand,’ once again. Since we’re seriously considering quality, I can’t make that promise for the time being, but I believe we will announce something for home console at Tokyo Game Show.”
The first trailer for 7th Dragon III: code:VFD has gone live. You can check it out below:
As we previously learned, the opening theme is called Annabel and it’s by Vocaloid artist sasakure.UK. What we failed to pick up on is the fact Yuzo Koshiro has signed on for the game’s soundtrack which is pretty exciting news for fans of his work.
7th Dragon III: code:VFD launches in Japan on the 15th of October exclusively for 3DS. There is no word on a Western release and it’ll be unlikely that we get one seeing as the previous games have all been Japan exclusive.
The 7th Dragon series returns to Japan for its third installment, 7th Dragon III: code:VFD for the 3DS.
The RPG series has stayed Japan exclusive for its entirety but it’s notable for being produced by Rieko Kodama, creator of the Phantasy Star franchise.
Not much is known about 7th Dragon III outside what is currently displayed on the official website. The main theme will be produced by famed vocaloid artist sasakure.UK.
The above images come from a cancelled Initial D game for the DS called Initial D EX. The game was in development at SEGA Rosso in 2007/2008 but was quietly cancelled for unknown reasons. The above images actually come directly from SEGA Rosso’s website but were removed rather sharpish. Initial D EX was planned to be the 7th game in the Initial D franchise.
Hear that? That’s the sound of me weeping into a pillow at the thought of Japanese 3DS owners being able to purchase this incredible new theme based on the Dreamcast (as well as many other retro SEGA consoles). Check out video of the theme in action and marvel at the attention to detail (VMU and disc drive sounds!):
The current range of SEGA console themes for 3DS are sadly exclusive to Japan at the moment. Fingers crossed they eventually make it West.
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