Yakuza Kiwami’s Switch Triumph Signals the Need to End a Series Tradition

For most of its life, the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series was known as a PlayStation staple. From Yakuza (2005) to Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, nearly every major title and spin-off made its first appearance on a Sony console. However, the last few years have seen a significant shift in Sega’s strategy. Starting in 2019, Sega began expanding the franchise’s reach. They introduced Yakuza Kiwami, originally a PS4 exclusive, to Windows PCs. By 2020 and 2021, almost every Like a Dragon game available on PS4 found its way to PC and Xbox One.

Now, the series has embraced a multiplatform identity, releasing simultaneously on PlayStation, Xbox, and PCs. Unfortunately, for Nintendo enthusiasts, their platforms have been mostly left out. While Sega did deliver Yakuza Kiwami to the Switch, other titles, including the upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, remain absent from its lineup. There’s a long journey ahead before the series is fully ported to Nintendo systems, but the success of the Switch version of Yakuza Kiwami might encourage Sega to consider launching future titles on Nintendo consoles from the start.

Nintendo Switch’s immense popularity—after selling over 146 million units by November 2024—might make one wonder why Like a Dragon games aren’t more prevalent on the platform. The head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Masoyoshi Yokoyama, offered some insight in 2022. He explained that their initial reluctance stemmed from seeing the Switch as a child-friendly console, not ideal for the mature themes of the Like a Dragon series. Despite this stance, mature content isn’t lacking on the Switch, making their hesitancy seem a bit perplexing at the time.

Despite Yokoyama previously perceiving the series as too adult-oriented for Nintendo’s audience, the tables have turned. The arrival of Yakuza Kiwami on the Switch has proven successful, even being described as “selling like hotcakes” by Yokoyama himself. This change in tide signals that Sega’s earlier assumptions may not fully grasp the current Nintendo market landscape.

As much as it’s promising to see more Like a Dragon games potentially arriving on the Switch, Sega needs to step up its game. They even opened a survey asking fans about their interest in more Switch ports. This suggests a real possibility of seeing more titles making the leap, but simply porting older games won’t cut it. To truly capitalize on the Switch’s user base, Sega should aim for simultaneous global releases across all platforms, including Nintendo’s.

A prime contender for such a move is the upcoming Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Set to debut on PS4 and Xbox One in February 2025, it’s conceivable that with some technical adjustments, it could also run on the Switch. If not with the current generation, then the Switch 2 might offer the necessary capabilities. With this approach, RGG Studio could ensure that Like a Dragon’s impact is just as strong on Nintendo as it is on PlayStation and Xbox.