According to Sony, the mainline Yakuza entries, as well as one spinoff, are all headed to PS Plus subscribers starting next month. The first to join the service is Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which Sony recently confirmed will be part of the free games lineup next month for PS Plus subscribers alongside Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and Little Nightmares. In addition, Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are coming to Extra and Premium tier users as part of the August Game Catalog lineup. Finally, Sony confirmed that the other games such as Yakuza 3 Remastered, Yakuza 4 Remastered, Yakuza 5 Remastered, and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, will all follow suit in the near future. Unfortunately, Sony didn’t confirm when the August Game Catalog lineup will launch, but we don’t think it will be any different from last month’s. The Yakuza franchise has built a solid reputation as an open-world action-adventure game with RPG-like gameplay mechanics. The first game introduced audiences to Kazuma Kiryu, who’s lived a life of crime and violence but has tried his best to make up for his sinful past. SEGA would end up releasing a total of 7 mainline titles. The lone spin-off, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, tells a mostly self-contained story that should make it the perfect starting point for newer fans. But, don’t be surprised if the other Yakuza games don’t play similarly to Like a Dragon. The 2020 title is the only Yakuza game with a turn-based combat system. However, it does share characters, characters, and stories, with the rest of the franchise.
Adding the Yakuza games to the PS Plus should help round out its value. Just last month, the console manufacturer added several Assassin’s Creed titles as well as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and the platform’s first day one launch title, Stray. If Sony continues adding more valuable titles, audiences will figure out for themselves the appeal of the more expensive PS Plus tiers.
