Rumor: Upcoming Yakuza Game Might Be Exclusive to Mobile

New rumors suggest that the next installment in the Yakuza series could be mobile-exclusive, according to recent leaks. Adding to the intrigue, this unannounced game might even see a return to the Yakuza name, which was recently retired in favor of the Like a Dragon branding.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio hinted at its next project in July 2024, with a promise that fans would be "surprised" by what’s coming. The studio confirmed that the game would be officially revealed at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, set to start on September 26.

Yakuza Wars Leaked Through Premature Facebook Page

The reveal may have been prematurely spoiled by a Facebook page for a game called Yakuza Wars. Although anyone can create Facebook pages, this particular one features official-looking artwork of series icons like Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, and it aligns with the Yakuza Wars trademark Sega registered in late July 2024. Additionally, recent Facebook ads for the unannounced game have been spotted by Reddit user 8349_47.

The cover image on the leaked Facebook page suggests that Yakuza Wars will be published by BBGame, a mobile game publisher based in Guangzhou, China. The page also features the title "Dragon Among Men" written in kanji, which is the Chinese name for the Like a Dragon series. According to the page's description, players will have the opportunity to team up with iconic characters such as Kazuma Kiryu, Goro Majima, and Ichiban Kasuga to forge their own "underworld legend."

Sega’s Possible Revival of the Yakuza Name

A curious aspect of this leak is the potential revival of the Yakuza brand. This would mark a return to the name Sega had retired in 2022 in favor of the Like a Dragon title. The change was intended to unify the series' global marketing, as the series was always known as Like a Dragon in Japan.

Yakuza Wars would not be the franchise’s first venture into mobile gaming. The series previously saw a spin-off with Ryū ga Gotoku Online, a free-to-play collectible card game released in 2018 for both Google Play and the iOS App Store. Although still available and even ported to PC, it remained exclusive to Japan.