Sega Promises Minimal Changes for Yakuza 4 Localization

A spokesperson for Sega of America has promised that the western localization for Yakuza 4 will include much fewer changes than previous overseas release for the series. Speaking to Kotaku during a demonstration of the game, Sega's Aaron Weber said that content such as hostess clubs, dress-up minigames and mah-jong would make the transition from the Japanese version of the gritty crime drama to the West. There is at least one prominent feature in the original version of the game that will not make it across the ocean: an in-game Japanese quiz show called Answer X Answer. Weber explained this cut was made because recreating the sub-game's old-school, custom-animated fonts in English would be too time-consuming given the game's planned Spring 2011 release date. Aside from that, Weber told Kotaku every side quest in the game "will pretty much be in there," and said any cuts would be"nothing like Yakuza 3." That game's release drew controversy among many Western fans for Sega's removal of features including 22 side missions and four mini-games that were in the original, Japanese version. Sega cited the need for a speedy translation in justifying those cuts. Yakuza 3 was the first game in the series to see such extensive cuts through localization. Despite healthy sales in Japan, the Yakuza series has never been more than a niche success outside its home country. Western releases in the series tend to lag behind the Japanese original by a year or more. The PlayStation 3 exclusive fourth installment in the series was released in Japan in March.