Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio on Judgment Localization, New Yakuza with Ichiban Kasuga, plus

IGN Japan recently met Toshihiro Nagoshi, head of Ryu Ga Gotoku studio, Judgment producer Kazuki Hosokawa, and Yakuza series and Judgment producer Daisuke Sato, who shares various things about Judgment and the new Yakuza game featuring Ichiban Kasuga.

Here are the little things that are remarkable:

• Nagoshi does not consider Judgment to be a spin-off of the Yakuza series like "the characters of Yakuza do not appear in Judgmentand although it is in the same area of ​​Kamurocho City, we wanted to do something different. "
• Hosokawa was "a little worried that fans are tired of seeing the same place again" in Judgment, but the Yakuza Kamourocho of the series was used because "it has become a studio venue that we know well" because "it would suit the character and make the game much more fun to play", and because of "costs and timing".
• Parties of Judgment The whereabouts began about a year before the Japanese release, which allowed the Western release to launch only six months after the Japanese release, according to Hosokawa. Nagoshi added that a simultaneous global release was possible, but that from a business point of view, there are so many important outlets in the west that sales data take time to predict correctly. "Yes Judgment The data is selling well abroad, so we will have the data needed so that if we come to a sequel, it becomes possible to consider simultaneous global release next time, "said Nagoshi.
• The location for Judgment would now be over if they did not have to change the character model and the actor of Kyohei Hamura. The Western version is currently in QA.
• A PC version of Judgment has not been decided yet, but other formats are under study. "It's not impossible, but I can not say things," Hosokawa said.
• There are "no plans at this time" for a Yakuza game for Switch, according to Nagoshi.
• Regarding the new Yakuza Sato said, "I can not go into details, but we will soon be able to reveal something that will make you think," Wow, that really looks different. "The continuity of the previous titles in the series is still valid.We always have the Tojo clan and the organization of yakuza Omi Alliance, and when the game will come out, it will be set the number of years after the previous games. Judgmentit will be a continuation of the Yakuza series. But when it comes to new things, you will have to wait and see. "
• Regarding some of the same places of Judgment appearing in the new Yakuza Sato said, "You can see the same shops and the same bars, and if we can use certain characters in a way that seems natural, it is possible that we see these appearances. I do not intend to force him. Judgment and Yakuza are separate series. "
• Regarding Ichiban Ksuga, Sato said, "Kasuga is the opposite pole of Kiryu. They are two strong men, but Kazuma Kiryu is a taciturn person who does not speak without reason. He begins in a coveted position within the yakuza, though unhappy; he is seen as having a future within yakuza, and we see him fall from grace and begin a difficult life. But even then, he has good friends who believe in him. On the other hand, Ichiban Kasuga starts with absolutely nothing. He is not respected as a yakuza; he was born and raised in the streets of Kamurocho without any relatives – well, Kiryu is also an orphan. But nobody looks up to Kasuga. He must make his way from the bottom. We are aiming for a character who contrasts with Kiryu. I hope the players will like it. "
• As for the auditions for a supporting actress standing for the new Yakuza Nagoshi played in the game with Ichiban Kasuga: "I can not say more. She's an important character in the story, but she's not the heroine. She is at the heart of the story. Sato added, "There is a heroine, but she is a separate character alongside Ichiban Kasuga and the audition is for a third member of their group.
• Nagoshi would say yes to Kazuma Kiryu invited to Super Smash Bros., but do not think that director Masahiro Sakurai would be interested.

Read the full interview at IGN.

Judgment Launched for the PlayStation 4 in December 2018 in Japan, and should be released June 25 in the Americas and Europe. The west exit will change the character model and the Japanese actor Kyohei Hamura.

New Yakuza The star of the movie Ichiban Kasuga has not yet received a release date in Japan, but will be for PlayStation 4.