A new chapter appears to be opening for the Like a Dragon saga. In the wake of the Yakuza 3 remake, the signs increasingly suggest that the “Kiwami line” is reaching its endpoint. RGG Studio has confirmed that Yakuza Kiwami 3 will be the final remake to carry the Kiwami name, and that alone hints at what may await Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, and Yakuza 6. This is a significant shift for the Like a Dragon franchise. After the Yakuza 3 remake, everything once again points toward the “Kiwami line” coming to a close.

For years, the Yakuza franchise has been reshaping itself through remakes that refresh Kazuma Kiryu’s early story for modern hardware and a new wave of players. With only hours to go before Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties launches, many have been asking what RGG Studio will do next. Even with multiple projects in the works, the direction now seems to be that the “Kiwami line will end,” at least according to the Japanese studio’s director.

A Major Shift For The Yakuza Saga

RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama said during a Ryusta TV livestream that he believes “Yakuza Kiwami 3 will be the last, and the Kiwami line will come to an end.” Some theories argue the choice stems directly from narrative changes introduced in Kiwami 3 itself, changes that would make it impossible to remake Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, and Yakuza 6 without effectively creating a parallel timeline that breaks away from the original saga.

Still, Yokoyama emphasized that the series isn’t stopping, it’s pivoting. “I don’t think it will continue as the Kiwami series, I think it will start a different series, not something like ‘Like a Dragon 9,’ but a new series in a different vein, with a different meaning,” he explained. As previously noted, the script and story alterations in Yakuza Kiwami 3 would have direct implications for Yakuza 4, and the director says the logic becomes clearer once you actually play Kiwami 3 (via Insider Gaming).

Closing out the Kiwami timeline doesn’t mean RGG Studio is dropping the idea of revisiting the remaining story, but it does signal a turning point. The notion of a “new series in a different timeline” suggests the studio could be exploring an alternate continuity or a more radical reimagining of the saga players know. Rather than sticking to faithful, continuity-locked remakes of Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, and Yakuza 6, the team may choose a route that’s more ambitious than a strict 1:1 remake.

A major change is underway for Like a Dragon, and after the Yakuza 3 remake, everything points to the “Kiwami line” reaching its end.

What’s certain is that none of this will happen overnight, since the saga continues with new projects and an expanding spotlight for characters like Ichiban. In that sense, Yakuza Kiwami 3 isn’t only the latest remake, it may also be the first step toward something different. At minimum, many Spanish fans would rather see an official translation patch for Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, and Yakuza 6.

Source: 3djuegos