Yakuza Kiwami's Switch Release Exceeds Sales Expectations

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio recently announced that Yakuza Kiwami’s Nintendo Switch debut has surpassed their sales forecasts. During August's 2024 Nintendo Direct, fans of the Like a Dragon series were thrilled to hear that Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game, would finally be available on the Switch. This release, which launched in October, marks the series' first appearance on a Nintendo platform—eight years after its original debut on PS3 and PS4.

Initially, there was little indication that Like a Dragon would come to the Switch. Series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi previously commented that he saw the platform as better suited for “kids and teens,” hinting that he didn’t believe the series would be a good fit. Adding to this skepticism, Nintendo had previously declined to publish the original Yakuza, making Nagoshi's doubts somewhat understandable. Yet, despite these past reservations, Yakuza Kiwami is proving to be a popular addition to the Switch library.

In a recent live stream with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama (translated by Install Base), Yokoyama shared that Yakuza Kiwami on the Nintendo Switch is “selling like hotcakes,” with numbers far exceeding Sega's expectations. Yokoyama admitted that he initially set conservative sales targets, only for the Switch version to perform significantly better than anticipated.

Yokoyama Celebrates Strong Sales for Yakuza Kiwami on Switch

Reflecting on Kiwami's unexpected success, Yokoyama expressed some initial hesitation due to the game’s age—it has been nearly eight years since Kiwami’s original release on other platforms, and the Switch version is digital-only. However, Yokoyama shared his excitement over fans embracing the game on Nintendo’s platform, acknowledging the unique challenge of promoting an older title on a new console. He even mentioned buying a copy himself, enjoying the convenience of playing Kiwami on the go.

This success contrasts sharply with Yakuza’s previous experience on Nintendo hardware. In 2013, the Ryu ga Gotoku 1 & 2 HD remaster collection came to the Wii U, featuring upgraded versions of the first two Yakuza games, initially released on the PS2 and later remastered for PS3. Although the Wii U ports were well-received critically, sales fell short compared to the PS3 version, and the Wii U release remained exclusive to Japan. The promising sales of Yakuza Kiwami on the Switch hint at a bright future for the Like a Dragon series on Nintendo consoles, potentially paving the way for more entries on future Nintendo platforms.