Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio dropped the first trailer for Yakuza Kiwami 3 during their Tokyo Game Show 2025 showcase today. The ground-up remake of 2009’s Yakuza 3 launches February 11 with completely rebuilt visuals, new story content, and several recast characters.
The reveal trailer shows off modernized versions of both Okinawa and Kamurocho running on RGG’s current Dragon Engine. Gone is the murky color filter that plagued the PS3 original. Instead, the sunny beaches of Okinawa pop with vibrant colors while Kamurocho’s neon lights shine brighter than ever.
This marks the third “Kiwami” treatment in the series, following successful remakes of the first two Yakuza games. Like those remakes, Kiwami 3 promises expanded content beyond just a visual upgrade. The trailer specifically mentions “new stories” and “completely remade scenes,” suggesting RGG Studio is addressing one of the original’s biggest criticisms—its notoriously slow opening chapters at the Morning Glory orphanage.
Several fan-favorite characters sport new faces in the remake. Both Rikiya Shimabukuro and Shigeru Nakahara have been recast with different actors, with fans speculating that Show Kasamatsu (known for Tokyo Vice) now plays Rikiya. The recasting likely stems from conflicts with face-scanned appearances in later series entries or simple availability issues.
The English dub takes center stage in the reveal trailer, featuring Yong Yea reprising his role as Kazuma Kiryu. A Japanese language trailer is also available on Sega’s Japan YouTube channel for purists who prefer the original voice cast.
Dad shirts and flip phones sold separately
Steam’s store page reveals a Deluxe Edition packed with nostalgic cosmetics. Players can deck out Kiryu in his classic red shirt, customize flip phones with retro lock screens, and dress up the Ryukyu Gal Gang with special jackets. The Legendary BGM CD Set suggests the remake will preserve the original’s iconic karaoke tracks alongside new musical additions.
Yakuza 3 holds a special place in the series as the game that shifted Kiryu from street-level yakuza drama to something more personal. The Okinawa setting and orphanage management provided a stark contrast to the urban crime stories fans expected. While divisive at launch, this tonal shift has aged well, making it prime material for RGG’s remake treatment. With Kiwami 3 officially confirmed, speculation already turns to whether Yakuza 4 will receive similar treatment down the line.
