Honestly, looking back at the yakuza 4 release date, it’s a miracle the game even made it to the West in one piece. If you were a fan of the series back in 2010, things were... tense. Sega wasn't exactly sure if the "Like a Dragon" series (as we call it now) actually had a future outside of Japan.
They’d just released Yakuza 3, and while it was a hit, the localization was famously butchered. Content was cut, host clubs were gone, and fans were worried that Yakuza 4 would suffer the same fate—or worse, never show up at all.
The Long Road to the Yakuza 4 Release Date
The original journey started on March 18, 2010, when Ryu Ga Gotoku 4: Densetsu o Tsugumono launched exclusively for the PlayStation 3 in Japan. For nearly a year, Western fans had to just sit there, watching grainy YouTube clips and praying for a localization announcement.
Finally, the yakuza 4 release date for North America was set for March 15, 2011, with Europe following just three days later on March 18, 2011. It was almost exactly one year after the Japanese debut. This "one-year gap" became a frustrating tradition for the series that lasted way longer than anyone liked.
Why this launch was such a big deal
Yakuza 4 wasn't just another sequel. It was a massive gamble.
Before this, the series was solely about Kazuma Kiryu. He was the face, the muscle, and the soul of Kamurocho. But the developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (RGG) decided to split the narrative between four different protagonists:
- Shun Akiyama: The smooth-talking loan shark with the "kick-only" style.
- Taiga Saejima: The powerhouse convict with a tragic past and a massive chin.
- Masayoshi Tanimura: The "Parasite of Kamurocho," a corrupt-ish cop with a heart of gold.
- Kazuma Kiryu: The legend himself, who doesn't even show up until the final act.
The Remastered Era: Bringing the Four to Modern Hardware
Fast forward a decade. The PS3 was a relic, and the series was exploding in popularity thanks to Yakuza 0. People wanted to play the middle chapters of Kiryu's life without digging an old console out of the attic.
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This led to The Yakuza Remastered Collection. The standalone yakuza 4 release date for the PlayStation 4 remaster was October 29, 2019, in the West. This was a digital-first release that eventually got a physical run once Yakuza 5 Remastered finished the set.
But Sega didn't stop there.
On January 28, 2021, the game finally broke its PlayStation shackles. It launched simultaneously on PC (via Steam and Windows 10) and Xbox One. This was a huge moment because it meant the entire mainline saga was finally playable on almost every major platform.
The Tanimura Controversy
One weird detail about the remaster? The face of Masayoshi Tanimura completely changed.
The original 2010/2011 release featured the likeness of actor Hiroki Narimiya. However, due to his retirement from the entertainment industry following some heavy (and later disputed) allegations, RGG Studio decided to recast the role for the 2019 remaster. They brought in Toshiki Masuda to provide a new face and new voice lines.
If you play the PS3 version and the PC version side-by-side, it’s like looking at two different people. It’s one of those rare cases where a "remaster" actually alters the artistic history of the game.
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Regional Release Timeline Summary
To keep things simple, here is how the rollout actually looked across the globe:
PlayStation 3 (Original)
- Japan: March 18, 2010
- North America: March 15, 2011
- Europe: March 18, 2011
- Australia: March 24, 2011
PlayStation 4 (Remastered)
- Japan: January 17, 2019
- Worldwide: October 29, 2019
PC & Xbox One (Remastered)
- Worldwide: January 28, 2021
Was the wait worth it?
Kinda depends on who you ask.
At the time, critics were a bit split. Some felt the combat was getting stale, and the "rubber bullets" plot twist—if you know, you know—is still one of the most debated (and mocked) moments in the entire franchise.
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But honestly? Akiyama alone makes the game worth playing. His introduction changed the vibe of the series forever. He brought a lightness and a sense of style that Kiryu’s stoic "I’ll punch a building if I have to" energy lacked.
Also, Kamurocho finally got some verticality. You could go on the rooftops. You could go into the sewers. It felt like a real city for the first time, rather than just a series of flat hallways.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive into Yakuza 4 today, don't hunt down a PS3 copy unless you're a hardcore collector.
The PC and modern console versions run at a crisp 1080p (or higher) and a buttery smooth 60fps. The original PS3 version frequently dipped below 30fps during heavy combat, which makes the "Tiger Drop" timing a nightmare.
Here is what you should do:
- Check Game Pass: As of early 2026, the series frequently rotates through subscription services. It’s the cheapest way to experience the 80-hour grind.
- Play in Order: Don't jump into 4 just because you like Akiyama's hair. The plot is a direct continuation of the political fallout from Yakuza 3. You will be lost if you don't know who Daigo Dojima is or why everyone is obsessed with the Tojo Clan's hierarchy.
- Save your Yen: In Yakuza 4, money is actually useful for the Hostess Maker and the Fighter Maker minigames. Don't blow it all on Staminan X early on.
The legacy of the yakuza 4 release date is really about the survival of the series. It was the game that proved the franchise could survive without Kiryu as the only lead, paving the way for the ensemble casts we see in the modern "Like a Dragon" titles.