Media Create Blames "Slightly Unsatisfactory" Yakuza 6 Sales on PS4 Exclusive Release

Like every Friday, Media Create published its top-50 weekly ranking and full analysis today, following the top-20 released on Wednesday, and giving a bird-eye view on last week's performance of the Japanese market.

[SaveFerris]

Sega and Sony were likely counting on fans of the series to buy a PS4 or Pro when this game was first announced.

[Abriael]

Did someone seriously just post the same drivel 20 times?

To the point, I'm pretty sure Sega made the right move. The game might have sold a bit less, but developing for one platform means spending a lot less than having to support two, especially considering that developing for PS3 is complicated and expensive.

[NecoTehSergal]

The sales will likely continue through the course of PS4's lifetime as well, trickling more and more sales like a longterm investment over the months/years. Fans who just don't have a PS4 yet will, eventually and at the right time and price go and pick it up, it's just when.

[ChronoJoe]

On numerous different accounts too. Can you just imagine how much time this fool is wasting to be ignored on N4G? I doubt anyone even reads his his comments.

I actually feel bad for the guy. I worry about the sense of self-worth one must have to expend so much of your time attempting to fuel a console war on the internet. It's so ridiculous, reflecting back on this time spent, how could it possibly be anything but a waste of time? Can you imagine thinking back to 2016 on your death bed, 'oh, that was the year I wasted trolling an internet forum', the very thought would give me an existential crisis.

[kraenk12]

It's what Rookie has been doing here for ages. He's just becoming increasingly desperate lately. Poor soul this kid...must have no friends.

[Rachel_Alucard]

The original account was Gansta_red. I think he got banned or something so now he's acting like a complete fool. Ironically he used to fanboy for Microsoft hard, so now he's out to attack others for fanboying the opposition, despite doing the same.

[FallenAngel1984]

Yakuza 6 sales will be more satisfying than whatever Shenmue 3 will sell that's for sure

[BizarroUltraman]

You do mean in the Japanese market correct? Because Shenmue 3 would imo wipe the floor clean with Yakuza 6 in a worldwide release. Ive been waiting a few generations to play another Shenmue game.

[Ravenor]

How many people are actually like you though? 69k backers sounds like a lot, but it's honestly nothing, barely a ripple. I'm happy people will get a continuation of the story, but Shenmue 3 isn't going to be some kind of gargantuan mega seller.

[TheColbertinator]

Sega needs to give it time. Yakuza 6 comes off the PS3 era and PS4 is still digging in.

[Ravenor]

Digging in three years later? Or are we going to start admitting that the Japanese market just isn't what it used to be.

[Gaming_Cousin]

I find it funny that people use up their time as revenge to post the same comments in every article. I personally would use my time to do constructive things, but hey I guess people like doin their own things

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed the spamming by some of these people is a very sad and just goes beyond being salty about something and turns into some strange and pathetic obsession.

[kraenk12]

What you need to understand though is most of "these people" are one and the same person. Rookie_monster and his countless alt accounts.

[rainslacker]

Personally, I'd just make an account and try to be normal if I really wanted to hang out here that much. Either that, or go to YouTube where you can say whatever stupid thing you want, and troll endlessly with a single account.

Would be nice if N4G got a handle on it though. It artificially inflates the heat of articles, which ironically, brings more attention to Sony related articles. Who'd have thought him trying to annoy Sony fans and seem important actually just pushes Sony articles up the ranks.:)

but I'm a glass half full kind of guy, so prefer to look at the positive side of his antics.

[RedDeadLB]

I never understood what was so special about Yakuza games.

[akiraburn]

If you haven't experienced the series yourself, it's not an easy thing to explain in just a few words. The Yakuza series takes the genres of beat 'em up, open world exploration, RPG/JRPG, and mini-game compilation all together with a very human story deeply rooted in the Japanese underworld. People enjoy them because they offer a lot of gameplay with a massive amount of variety for what you want to do, and typically offering a more engaging story than many of today's AAA titles.

I really can't stress how much variety and how many options you have within this series for how they let you play and do what you want, with more options than nearly any other game on the market. From just pounding through the story, or leveling up your character(s) and their skills, through bowling, fishing, billiards, darts, golf, over a dozen gambling games, Arcade games (Yakuza 5 includes the full version of Virtua Fighter 2 while Yakuza 6 includes Virtua Fighter 5 - as well as other arcade games like Taiko Drum Master, Claw/grabber games, an original speed-based space shooter called Boxcelios, etc.), a Karaoke game where the different people you meet in the game can sing (leads to some funny moments), table tennis, batting cages, a massage game, pachinko machines, Shogi, making ramen... and the list goes on even further.

Beyond all of that, there's a fighting arena for people who like the combat and really want to focus there. There's the ability to train fighters and coach them through stuff. There are usually around 100 side-missions, a lengthy story to experience, a completionist book (for folks who want to 100% everything by eating at every restaurant, owning every item, doing every mission, and acing every mini-game), hidden locker keys to be found throughout the city, plus a lot more content laden through the game.

The games are sometimes off-putting to newcomers because Sega has never really figured out how to market or explain the series very well outside of Japan. When the first Yakuza was releasing outside of Japan, they had it marketed as a "Japanese GTA". That didn't really bode well for the consumer who was expecting to steal cars, shoot a myriad of guns, and blow tons of things up since Yakuza is more akin to Shenmue - lots of story, beat 'em up combat, mini-games, etc. And for the demos of prior games they have released, many of them don't accurately showcase what the game actually is (for example, Yakuza 4's demo was just four separate fights with no story, no exploration, and nothing to even frame them).

Sega had also planned the release dates rather poorly. Yakuza 2 and 5 both didn't release outside of Japan until 2-3 years had passed from their Japanese release, and similarly for both of these, they were stuck only being released on an older generation system when a newer system had become standardized. There's also been a small barrier for entry, because the games each have some connections from one story to another.

So if you haven't tried a Yakuza title, the best opportunity is with the two upcoming titles, Yakuza Zero and Yakuza Kiwami. In Yakuza Zero, you're playing a prequel to the entire series. You don't need to know anything in advance and it's been praised by many as having the best combat until 6 released. And Kiwami is a full proper remake of the first Yakuza title with brand new assets, new cut-scenes, more mini-games, and tons of other additional content. Zero will be released this January, while Kiwami is slated for Summer. I hope that answers your question and that you might be interested in checking out the series.

[RedDeadLB]

I appreciate the effort you put into the comment. At least now I know what the game is about.

[Jayszen]

@akiraburn

Really good overview of the history of Yakuza and what the game is. Newbies ought to read this first! Good job!

[Ravenor]

It's a game generally championed by Otaku types, take from that what you will.

[P_Bomb]

Say what lol? By what definition, the computer nerd basement dwelling loser variety on urban dictionary?

Maybe they just like crime dramas with good characters and fun beat em up gameplay? It's okay to like things, lol. This place...

[_-EDMIX-_]

It could also be to the release of Final Fantasy 15

[Jayszen]

Storm in a teacup - anyone who has not bought Yakuza 6 because of so many other PS4 releases will eventually get around to it or may well have purchased it digitally. Fans of the 'Yakuza' series are pretty loyal and I suspect that the game will sell as per expectations eventually.

[kraenk12]

I'm also sure it will turn out to be a real system seller for Sony in Japan. Give it time.

[ultimize]

Is it time to report including Digital download ?

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Its a lot of hate, but hes got a valid point you know... Not talking about the article.

[Razzer]

lol......no.

[ONESHOTV2]

i'm buying this for my pro but i wish there was a PC version maybe then they could actually get the sales they aimed for

[drunkenspy007]

I think you need to be a fan of the series and the games feel like if you've played one, you've played them all. Same characters that fight each other keep showing up and the story is some sort of bro code. I'd blame the low sales on that.

[P_Bomb]

According to the article sales aren't low, merely lowER cuz they don't include PS3 numbers this time as there was no PS3 release.

Context. For Japan, this week one is already higher than what most western hit franchises have done there lifetime on any given release. Uncharted, Halo, Witcher, Skyrim, COD, BF. Yakuza always sells more there. This one's no exception.