The recent Nintendo Direct presentation brought exciting news for fans of the Yakuza franchise, as Nintendo officially announced that two acclaimed remakes - Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 - will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. This marks a significant expansion of the beloved crime drama series on Nintendo's platform.

Originally debuting on PlayStation 2 in 2005, the Yakuza series maintained exclusivity to Sony consoles for over a decade. The tide began to turn in 2024 when Yakuza Kiwami, the enhanced remake of the first game, launched on Nintendo Switch. This was followed by Yakuza 0 serving as a launch title for the Switch 2, finally giving Nintendo players access to Kazuma Kiryu's epic underworld saga.

Sega has confirmed that Yakuza Kiwami 2, the remake of the second installment, will hit the Switch 2 on November 13, 2025. This version boasts substantial graphical improvements over the original PS2 release, along with refined gameplay mechanics and additional story content that enhances the overall experience.

Latest Game Information

Dual Release Strategy

While Yakuza Kiwami is already playable on Switch 2 through backward compatibility, Nintendo and Sega are taking an innovative approach:

• Native Switch 2 version of Yakuza Kiwami releasing November 13
• Digital bundle containing both Kiwami 1 & 2 available at launch
• Optimized performance taking full advantage of Switch 2 hardware

This strategy provides an ideal entry point for newcomers to experience Kiryu's early years in the Tojo Clan with consistent performance across both titles.

Current Yakuza Titles on Switch 2

The lineup of available Yakuza games on Nintendo's platform continues to grow:

Industry analysts speculate this could lead to more Yakuza titles migrating to Switch 2. While the remastered versions of Yakuza 3-6 seem likely candidates, some suggest Sega might opt for additional Kiwami-style remakes - particularly for Yakuza 3, which many consider to show its age with outdated mechanics.

The Dragon Engine-powered Yakuza Kiwami 2 represents a major technical leap for the series on Nintendo hardware. Early screenshots showcase detailed character models, vibrant neon-lit streets of Kamurocho, and smooth combat animations running on Switch 2: