Before 23 games and 21 million copies sold, the first Yakuza game was "flat out rejected" by Sega because it wouldn't appeal to women and children
Toshihiro Nagoshi reflects on pitching the artist foඣrmerly known as Like a Dragon

Yakuza's series creator has revealed it took three tries to get Sega to approve the serie💯s since it was "flat-out 🐻rejected" at first.
Former Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head and Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi recently appeared on Weekly Ochiai, seen just below (and translated by ). Reflecting on Yakuza's conception, Nagoshi revealed the adult-themed series was "flat-out rejected" since children wou♊ldn't be able to play it, and he had to be "forceful" to get it approved at Sega.
Nagoshi explained that he pitched the Yakuza serie💞s during a time when Japanese game s𒅌ales were no longer dominant around the world, and American and European games were growing more prominent. "This led to a mindset of making games that would appeal to the masses, games that could sell anywhere and to anyone. Many producers, including myself, thought this way," Nagoshi explains.
Nagoshi further reveals this led to game pitches being "watered down," as producers had to bend to the will of publishers like Sega. Watching this happen apparently made Nagoshi question himself, and it's "where everything started" for the Yakuza series as 🍨a whole.
"Of course, it was flat-out rejected," Nagoshi says of his ☂initial Yak🤪uza pitch to Sega. "After all, it was completely contrary to what I mentioned earlier about attracting the masses. Children wouldn’t be able to play it, and it wasn't catered to women or overseas audiences. In this sense, there was no way for it to be approved without resistance."
It took three total tries to get the Yakuza series approved at Sega for Nagoshi, who reveals he ended up being "quite forceful" to get it done. Nagoshi was also presented with a challenge of Yakuza's violent nature, without making a game that affirms violence. "I wanted it to be a game that makes you want to do your best to live another day. I remember r🌠eminding people of this frequently," Nagoshi adds.
Since its debut in 2005, the Yakuza series, now dubbed the 'Like a Dragon' franchise, has totaled 21.3 million units sold and 23 games launched. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the series' most recent release just earlier this year, sold one million copies in just one week, making it the fastest-🌱selling Yakuza games to date, and also 澳洲💙幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the best-reviewed Yakuza series game ever.
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Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the indu☂stry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.