SEGA reveals new details about Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties which are scheduled for release on February 12, 2026 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. SEGA confirmed that the project is not only a remake of Yakuza 3, but also adds a new story titled Dark Ties with a focus on the character Yoshitaka Mine. The information shared highlights two main pillars: the Bad Boy Dragon mode in Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the Underground Fight Club content in Dark Ties.
Two titles in one release
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is positioned as a package that contains two separate experiences. Yakuza Kiwami 3 is tasked with reintroducing the story of Kazuma Kiryu who seeks to protect those closest to him in Tokyo and Okinawa. This version features the Like a Dragon series' signature street combat, entertainment district exploration, as well as the minigames that have characterized the series since its inception.
Dark Ties stands as a new story that shifts the focus to Yoshitaka Mine. The narrative follows his journey from start-up entrepreneur to hardened and influential yakuza figure. The presence of Dark Ties provides additional context for a figure previously known as the main antagonist in Yakuza 3, so this package is geared towards reaching out to new players as well as old ones.
These two parts are claimed to complement each other. Yakuza Kiwami 3 provides the foundation of the main story and the Okinawan setting, while Dark Ties offers another perspective of Kamurocho through the internal conflicts of the yakuza world. This approach blends elements of the remake with new material without separating the two into separate releases.
Bad Boy Dragon: focusing on gangs, bikes, and squad management
Details of Bad Boy Dragon mode are one of the main highlights on the side of Yakuza Kiwami 3. Kiryu is depicted joining a small gang called Haisai Girls in Okinawa, before later taking on the role of leader. This mode puts Kiryu up against a group of Tokyo Night Terrors who cause chaos on the streets.
Bad Boy Dragon's mode structure combines member recruitment, squad management, and large-scale battles. Players can recruit new members through city exploration, substory completion, and participation in minigames. The system allows the formation of up to four squads each consisting of a leader and four members, with the rule that the squad will retreat if the leader falls.
Conflict on the streets materializes through Baddies Battles, which are battles that take place in the Downtown Ryukyu area. These scenarios not only require players to defeat enemies, but also rescue citizens. Rescued characters have the opportunity to join the Haisai Girls, forming a cycle between on-the-ground action and group expansion.
The scale of battle increases through the Rumbles mode, which allows up to 20 allies to fight against more than 100 opponents. Rumbles comes in Total Annihilation format, which emphasizes direct gang fights, as well as Turf War, which divides squads into multiple routes to attack enemy bases. The battle area in Turf War is designed to be large, with the use of motorcycles as a means of movement that allows for drifts and stunts along the course.
The customization element gets its own section. Players can adjust the color and pattern of the gang's uniforms, modify the bikes, and even determine the motto sewn on the back of each squad's uniform. The in-game economic system is centered on the Baddies Shop, where players purchase motorcycle upgrades, uniforms, and Baddie Weapons such as rocket launchers to supercars that can cut through opposing ranks.
Several new characters populate this mode, including Tsubasa as the boss of the Haisai Girls, Dawg Boi as the leader of the Bullet Boyz gang obsessed with '80s bad boy culture, Akko-san as a famous entertainment figure who turns out to be good at fighting, and Miya-san, a Ryukyu kobujutsu practitioner who runs a dojo and folk song bar.
Substory and training in Okinawa
In addition to the Bad Boy Dragon mode, Yakuza Kiwami 3 maintains the tradition of the Like a Dragon series through substories and side activities. Kiryu can work as a host in Kamurocho, deliver Okinawan soba in Downtown Ryukyu, and interact with local characters. An encounter with Akko-san, described as one of the biggest names in the Japanese entertainment industry, is one example of how the game merges the world of showbiz with street conflict.
The training system at Miyazato Dojo is another important part of the expansion of Okinawa's content. Kiryu was able to learn Ryukyu fighting styles under Miya-san's guidance, take advancement exams, and learn specialized techniques. The dojo serves as a center for skill development, while Miya-san's bar reflects his economic condition, which relies more on the entertainment business than martial arts students.
Dark Ties and Hell's Arena in Kamurocho
Dark Ties introduces Hell's Arena, an Underground Fight Club in Kamurocho attended by VIP investors. The arena poses a threat to the Nishikiyama family business, prompting Mine to go directly into the match system to destroy the organizers from within.
Hell's Arena is divided into several types of competition. Hellish Brawl is presented as a one-on-one battle in an enclosed arena with a time limit. Some matches require players to face multiple opponents in quick succession, making time management and health an important factor.
Survival Hell presents a different format in the form of a dungeon course. Participants must run to the end of the route while being chased by hunters and face a boss at the end of the journey. Various treasures are hidden throughout the dungeon, including Gospels that enhance Mine abilities, Survival Weapons as offensive skills, and Mercenaries that can be recruited as allies.
The concluding segment of Survival Hell contained a series of Boss Battles against seven hunters, each wearing an animal mask. Each hunter utilizes techniques inspired by the animal's characteristics. One example is the monkey mask wearer who summons a doppelganger to suppress the opponent. This battle is positioned as the culmination of Hell's Arena's challenges, forcing players to utilize all the upgrades and resources they've collected throughout the dungeon.
Through a combination of Bad Boy Dragon in Okinawa and Hell's Arena in Kamurocho, Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties establishes two distinct lines of conflict, with Kiryu and Mine placed at the center of each story. This format of two titles in one release positions the project as a continued part of SEGA's efforts to expand the world of Like a Dragon, while also deepening characters that longtime fans are already familiar with.
