The success of Yakuza Kiwami on Switch proves that it's time for the series to end

For most of its existence, the Yakuza/Like a dragon was a PlayStation exclusive franchise. Almost all main lines Yakuza game and spin-off in between, from Yakuza (2005) a Yakuza 6: The song of lifeit initially debuted on a Sony console. Over the last 5 years or so, however, series publisher Sega has taken a more multiplatform approach with its long-running franchise. In 2019, the company led Yakuza Kiwamia previously PS4-exclusive remake of the first installment in the series, for Windows PC. Eventually, Sega brought all the files Like a dragon game available from PS4 to PC and Xbox One in 2020 and 2021.




These days, the Like a dragon the series enjoys simultaneous multiplatform releases on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, in addition to PC. Unfortunately, Nintendo fans weren't able to join in on the fun, at least for the most part. While Sega did it recently carried Yakuza Kiwami for Switch, there are currently no others Like a dragon games on it and upcoming releases like Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii they are jumping the platform. THE Like a dragon The series still has a long way to go before it becomes fully playable on the system, but the success of Yakuza KiwamiThe Switch port of could encourage Sega to bring the franchise to Nintendo consoles from day one from now on.

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The time has come for Sega to bring Like a Dragon games to Nintendo platforms on day one


RGG Studios didn't want to bring Like a Dragon to Switch because they thought the console was too kid-friendly

The Nintendo Switch is by far one of the most successful consoles of all time, having sold over 146 million units as of November 2024. You might think that given its popularity, Sega would have put out several Like a dragon games on Switch now, but that hasn't happened yet. In 2022, Masoyoshi Yokoyama, the head of Like a dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, shed some light on the matter. He explained that RGG was reluctant to put its games on the Switch because the company considered it a children's console. Yokoyama added that the company's developers considered themselves “people of the night world” and that Like a dragon the series was too mature in nature to appeal to younger audiences on the Switch.

Given that there's no shortage of mature, adult-oriented games on the Switch, these statements seemed a little strange at the time. To Yokoyama's credit, though, it should be noted that the “perception” of Nintendo's hybrid console was changing and that perhaps one day the company would bring the Like a dragon series on the platform. Now that Yakuza Kiwami is currently on Nintendo Switch, it's clear that day has finally arrived. The porting of the game to Switch is, according to Masoyoshi Yokoyama himself, “selling like hotcakes”, so it is clear that his assumption regarding the Like a dragon the fact that the series were too mature for Nintendo consoles was an error of judgment.


More like a Dragon The Switch ports are nice, but Sega should take it a step further

Shortly after the release of Yakuza Kiwami on Switch, Sega posted a survey on its website asking fans if they would like to play more Like a dragon titles on the Nintendo console. Taking this into account, it seems likely that there will be more Switch ports than RGG Studios' blockbuster games are on the way. While it would be great if Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 2and other precedents Like a dragon the titles were also released on Switch, staggered launches like these would not be enough for Sega to fully exploit the console's install base. If the company really wants to get the most out of Nintendo console support, it needs to start embracing simultaneous releases on the platform.

If possible, Sega should try to port Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii and more future Like a dragon games on Nintendo Switch the same day they release on other platforms. Pirate Yakuzaspecifically, it will be playable on PS4 and Xbox One when it releases in February 2025, so with some technical tweaks, it might be able to run on Switch. If not, though, Sega and RGG Studio should aim to bring Like a dragon you play games on the Switch 2 as frequently as they do on the PlayStation and Xbox consoles.


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