PSA - If you want a copy of the original Yakuza 3 PC remaster without also paying for 6 other games, you'd better snap it up soon

Kiryu absolutely punts a dude. — (Image credit: Sega)

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is billed as an "extreme" remake of the 2009 original. In addition to a new version of the old PS3 game it'll come with Dark Ties which, as Wes Fenlon discovered last week, is a "breakneck roguelite dungeon crawl" set during the same time period. That's good news for people who love shiny new things, but it's bad news for those who love old things, because when Kiwami 3 releases the remastered version of Yakuza 3 will be harder to buy.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio confirmed as much on Saturday. "Those who already own Yakuza 3 Remastered will still be able to continue playing it," the company posted on X, but "for those new to the series who wish to experience the original version, it will be available with purchase of the Yakuza Complete Series bundle."

The Yakuza Complete Series bundle is $130 on Steam when it's not on sale, and it's a pretty good deal if you want, oh, probably around 500 hours worth of Yakuza games. If you want to buy Yakuza 3 Remastered separately it'll set you back $20, though both the bundle and the standalone Yakuza 3 go on sale pretty damn regularly: the latter often goes for around $6. The contents of the bundle has changed over the years thanks to the addition of new instalments, so its price has fluctuated a bit, but it has received discounts of up to 70 percent in the past.

Yakuza 3 Kiwami looks to be a pretty faithful remake, with most changes consisting of additions like a second combat style for Kiryu, new minigames and story sections, and more stuff to do during the orphanage sections. Crucially, though, it's not the same game: it's remade in the latest iteration of the Dragon Engine, which looks brilliant but maybe too brilliant if you believe a game's graphics are a huge part of their identity and vibe.

Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive its due critical reappraisal one day.

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