Hell has frozen over as the famously violent Yakuza series is making its way to the Nintendo Switch with the upcoming release of Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the first game in the franchise. This surprising announcement was made during today’s Nintendo Partner Showcase event. Masayoshi Yokoyama, the head of the development team, once expressed doubt that a Yakuza game would ever come to a Nintendo console, citing concerns over the platform’s younger audience. However, it seems that times have changed as Yakuza Kiwami is set to debut on the Switch, following its previous release on PS4 and Xbox One. Despite the Switch’s kid-friendly image, the console has expanded its library to include mature and violent games like Doom and Mortal Kombat, making it a fitting home for the gritty Yakuza series. As the franchise continues to gain popularity, with the success of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and an upcoming TV show adaptation, it appears that Yakuza’s presence on the Switch symbolizes a new era of gaming diversity and corporate collaboration.
