After years of Nintendo fans begging for Kiryu-chan to come to their platform, Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio finally delivered. The Yakuza series is officially on Nintendo hardware starting with Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, which launched as a Switch 2 launch title in June 2025. Now Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are dropping together on November 13, 2025, giving new players the perfect entry point into one of gaming’s best crime dramas.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Changed Everything
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut hit Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, as one of the system’s most surprising launch titles. This wasn’t just a straight port either. The Director’s Cut includes 26 minutes of never-before-seen story cutscenes that provide deeper insight into key incidents and character backstories. These new scenes were added throughout the game’s narrative, though some reviewers noted they feel more like deleted scenes that were cut from the original for pacing reasons rather than essential additions.
The bigger addition is Red Light Raid, a brand new online multiplayer mode designed specifically to take advantage of the Switch 2’s chat functions and C button. This mode lets you team up with friends to battle hordes of enemies using any of 60 playable characters that unlock as you progress. Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto confirmed the mode works solo too, so you’re not forced into online play if you prefer single-player experiences.
The Director’s Cut also adds English and Chinese voice acting options alongside the original Japanese, plus subtitles in French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. This expanded language support makes Yakuza 0 more accessible to players worldwide who previously struggled with Japanese audio and English text combinations.
Kiwami 1 and 2 Launch Together November 13
Sega announced on November 11, 2025, that both Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 will launch simultaneously on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 13. This is huge because it lets new players experience the trilogy in proper chronological order. Yakuza 0 tells the origin story of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in 1988, then Kiwami 1 jumps to 2005 for Kiryu’s first adventure as the Dragon of Dojima, with Kiwami 2 picking up immediately after in 2006.
Both games are optimized for Switch 2 hardware, running at 60 FPS in docked mode with 1080p resolution. Handheld mode drops to 720p but maintains the 60 FPS target. The file sizes are reasonable too, with Kiwami requiring 20.2 GB of storage. Each game is priced at $29.99 USD individually, or you can grab the digital bundle that includes both titles at a discount.
Preloading is already live on the Nintendo eShop for digital buyers. Based on Nintendo’s typical release patterns, the games will unlock at midnight in your local timezone on November 13. Physical versions use game-key cards rather than full cartridges, meaning you still need to download the games but can display the box art on your shelf.
What Each Game Brings to the Table
Yakuza 0 is set in Tokyo’s Kamurocho and Osaka’s Sotenbori districts during the Japanese economic bubble of 1988. You play as both Kazuma Kiryu, a low-ranking yakuza framed for murder, and Goro Majima, a disgraced former yakuza forced to manage a cabaret club. Both characters have three unique fighting styles that you dynamically switch between during combat. The Brawler style offers balanced offense and defense, Rush focuses on speed and dodging, while Beast mode lets you grab environmental objects and swing them like weapons.
The story revolves around the Empty Lot, a tiny piece of real estate in Kamurocho that every major crime syndicate wants to control. What starts as a simple dispute over property rights escalates into a conspiracy involving billions of yen, brutal torture, and betrayals that reshape the entire yakuza underworld. The writing is phenomenal, balancing serious crime drama with absurd side activities like running a cabaret club empire or managing a real estate company.
Yakuza Kiwami is a complete remake of the first Yakuza game from 2005, rebuilt using the same engine as Yakuza 0. The game follows Kiryu in 2005 after he takes the fall for a murder he didn’t commit to protect his sworn brother. After serving ten years in prison, he returns to Kamurocho to find everything changed. The love of his life Yumi has disappeared, ten billion yen was stolen from the Tojima Clan, and his best friend Nishiki has become a ruthless yakuza captain.
Kiwami keeps the four fighting styles from Yakuza 0 and adds the Dragon of Dojima style as Kiryu’s ultimate form. The Director’s Cut version launching December 8 for other platforms restores two songs that were removed from previous releases: “Receive You [Reborn]” and “Bleed.” These tracks are essential to the game’s emotional impact, so having them back is a big deal for longtime fans.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 uses the Dragon Engine that debuted in Yakuza 6, offering more realistic physics and seamless transitions between exploration and combat. The story picks up one year after Kiwami, with Kiryu trying to prevent an all-out war between the Tojima Clan of Tokyo and the Omi Alliance of Osaka. Standing in his way is Ryuji Goda, the Dragon of Kansai, who wants to prove he’s the one true dragon by defeating Kiryu in single combat.
Kiwami 2 simplifies combat to a single fighting style but makes every move feel impactful with the Dragon Engine’s physics system. You can grab enemies and slam them through windows, throw motorcycles at groups of thugs, or improvise weapons from anything nearby. The game also includes a substantial side story starring Goro Majima that explains what he was doing during the events of Kiwami 2.
Complete Content Breakdown
| Game | Release Date Switch 2 | Price | Exclusive Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut | June 5, 2025 | Launch title pricing | 26 minutes new cutscenes, Red Light Raid multiplayer, 60 characters |
| Yakuza Kiwami | November 13, 2025 | $29.99 | 60 FPS, 1080p docked, expanded language support |
| Yakuza Kiwami 2 | November 13, 2025 | $29.99 | Dragon Engine physics, Majima Saga side story |
| Kiwami 1 and 2 Bundle | November 13, 2025 | Bundle discount | Both games in one purchase |
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Get Their Turn December 8
While Switch 2 gets Kiwami 1 and 2 first, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S owners don’t have to wait long. Both games launch on those platforms December 8, 2025, with PC versions updated the next day on December 9. These releases are part of the Yakuza 20th Anniversary celebration and include the same expanded language support as the Switch 2 versions.
There’s even better news for existing owners. If you bought Yakuza Kiwami digitally on PS4 or Xbox One before December 8 at 8:59 AM PST, you can upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X and S version for just $1.99. Yakuza Kiwami 2 owners get a completely free upgrade to next-gen versions. These upgrades don’t transfer save data though, so you’ll need to start fresh on the new platforms.
A physical 20th Anniversary Bundle launches December 8 for PS5 and later for PC, packaging Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, Kiwami, and Kiwami 2 together with a steelbook case and art cards. This collector’s edition is perfect for fans who want the complete trilogy in one premium package.
Why Nintendo Fans Waited So Long
The Yakuza series has been around since 2005, but it took 20 years for Kiryu to appear on Nintendo hardware. The main reason is technical. Early Yakuza games were built for PlayStation 2 and later PS3, using Sony-specific development tools and optimization. When the series went multiplatform starting with Yakuza 0 on PC in 2018, Nintendo’s hardware was either too weak (Wii, Wii U) or came out at the wrong time (Switch’s 2017 launch coincided with the series still being PlayStation exclusive).
The Switch 2 finally provides hardware capable of running modern Yakuza games at acceptable performance. The console’s improved CPU and GPU can handle 60 FPS brawler combat and the detailed open-world environments that define the series. Sega also needed time to gauge Western interest in the franchise, which exploded after Yakuza 0 found mainstream success on PC and Xbox Game Pass.
Now that the series is fully multiplatform and Nintendo has hardware that can run these games properly, there’s no reason for future Yakuza titles to skip Nintendo platforms. The Switch 2 launch proves strong sales potential, especially in Japan where Nintendo dominates the console market.
What Comes After Kiwami 2
Sega hasn’t announced ports of Yakuza 3, 4, 5, or 6 for Switch 2 yet, but the writing is on the wall. During RGG Summit 2025, the studio announced Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties for Switch 2, launching February 12, 2026. This is a full remake of Yakuza 3 with a completely new storyline called Dark Ties added on top of the base game.
The new content includes enhanced combat mechanics that bring Yakuza 3’s outdated fighting system up to modern standards. Kiryu will have more combo options, improved counters, and reworked heat actions that make battles feel as good as Kiwami 1 and 2. The Dark Ties story expands on events only hinted at in the original game, giving context to character motivations and plot points that felt rushed in the PS3 version.
With Kiwami 3 confirmed for early 2026, it’s safe to assume Yakuza 4, 5, and 6 will follow eventually. Whether they get full Kiwami remakes or just enhanced ports remains to be seen, but the trajectory is clear. Sega wants the entire Kiryu saga available on modern platforms including Nintendo hardware.
Should You Start With Yakuza 0
Absolutely. While each Yakuza game tells a standalone story, starting with Yakuza 0 gives you the best possible introduction to the series. You meet young Kiryu before he becomes a legend, witness the friendship between Kiryu and Majima form, and understand the events that shape everything that happens in Kiwami 1 and 2. The emotional payoff of certain scenes in Kiwami only hits properly if you played Yakuza 0 first.
Yakuza 0 is also mechanically the most refined of the three Switch 2 releases at the moment. The three fighting styles per character give you more combat variety than Kiwami 1, and the game was designed with modern sensibilities from the start rather than being a remake of older titles. The side activities are consistently entertaining, the story balances drama and comedy perfectly, and the game doesn’t require knowledge of later entries to enjoy fully.
Plus, if you buy Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut now, you get all the exclusive content including Red Light Raid multiplayer that won’t be in the PlayStation 5, Xbox, or PC versions launching December 8. Nintendo Switch 2 owners have the definitive edition of what many consider the best game in the entire franchise.
FAQs
When do Yakuza Kiwami and Kiwami 2 release on Nintendo Switch 2?
Both games launch simultaneously on November 13, 2025, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Preloading is available now for digital purchases through the Nintendo eShop. The games unlock at midnight local time on release day.
How much do the Yakuza games cost on Switch 2?
Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are priced at $29.99 USD each. A digital bundle including both games is available at a discount. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut launched earlier at launch title pricing.
What is Red Light Raid in Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut?
Red Light Raid is a brand new online multiplayer mode exclusive to the Director’s Cut. You team up with friends or play solo to battle hordes of enemies using any of 60 unlockable characters. It was designed specifically for Nintendo Switch 2’s chat functions and C button.
Do these games run well on Switch 2?
Yes, all three games target 60 FPS performance. In docked mode they run at 1080p resolution, dropping to 720p in handheld mode while maintaining the 60 FPS target. Performance is optimized specifically for Switch 2 hardware.
Is Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut coming to other platforms?
Yes, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam on December 8, 2025. However, those versions won’t include the Red Light Raid multiplayer mode that’s exclusive to the Switch 2 release.
Should I play these games in order?
For the best experience, play in chronological story order: Yakuza 0, then Kiwami, then Kiwami 2. Yakuza 0 is a prequel set in 1988, while Kiwami takes place in 2005 and Kiwami 2 follows immediately after in 2006. The stories reference each other heavily.
Are physical versions available?
Physical releases use game-key cards rather than full game cartridges. You still need to download the games, but you get physical packaging for your collection. The 20th Anniversary Bundle with steelbook and art cards is coming to PS5 and PC on December 8.
Will Yakuza 3, 4, 5, and 6 come to Switch 2?
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties is confirmed for Switch 2 on February 12, 2026. Sega hasn’t announced plans for Yakuza 4, 5, or 6 yet, but the pattern suggests they’ll eventually arrive on Nintendo’s platform.
What’s new in the Director’s Cut versions?
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut includes 26 minutes of new story cutscenes, Red Light Raid multiplayer with 60 characters, and expanded language support. Yakuza Kiwami Director’s Cut (December 8 on other platforms) restores the songs “Receive You [Reborn]” and “Bleed.”
Conclusion
The Yakuza series finally landing on Nintendo hardware is a big moment for the franchise and Switch 2 owners. These aren’t half-hearted ports either. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut adds meaningful exclusive content, while Kiwami 1 and 2 run at 60 FPS with optimized controls for Nintendo’s platform. The timing couldn’t be better. New players can start with Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut right now, then jump into Kiwami 1 and 2 on November 13 for the complete trilogy experience. By February 2026, Kiwami 3 arrives to continue the saga with modern enhancements and new story content. For longtime fans who avoided buying a PlayStation or Xbox because they prefer Nintendo ecosystems, this is your chance to experience what the hype is about. Kiryu’s story is one of gaming’s best crime dramas, mixing serious yakuza politics with ridiculous side activities like karaoke battles and pocket car racing. The combat feels satisfying whether you’re fighting one-on-one duels or brawling against dozens of thugs. And the emotional beats hit harder than most prestige TV shows. If you own a Switch 2 and haven’t played these games, November 13 is the day to fix that. Grab both Kiwami titles, play through Yakuza 0 first if you bought it at launch, then settle in for one of the most compelling character-driven stories in video game history. Just don’t blame me when you’re 80 hours deep and still finding new substories about helping a dominatrix understand her clients or training to become the best pocket circuit racer in Japan. That’s just the Yakuza experience.