The next Yakuza game won't have a physical release

gamesradar.com:

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will only see a digital launch later this year. 

Yesterday on July 26, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio put out the tweet just below. While it might not look like much at first, the tweet quietly confirms speculation that Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will only receive a digital launch when it launches later this year on November 9, skipping out a physical launch entirely.

And next up to bat is…Find out in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name available for download Nov 9, 2023. #LikeaDragonGaiden pic.twitter.com/HltCAw750HJuly 26, 2023

Speculation about a digital-only launch began last month in June, when the Twitter user below claimed to have received confirmation via retailers that a physical release wouldn't be happening. Curiously, RGG Studio has never actually commented on the matter whatsoever, so the new tweet is as close as we've had to confirmation on the matter to date.

Hi everyone. It seems like we were given the wrong information. We have spoken to retailers that have reached out to SEGA.We can unfortunately confirm that there is NO physical ESRB version of Like A Dragon Gaiden. It will be a digital only title. pic.twitter.com/CWP4cgS6tvJune 9, 2023

"Excited but still hoping for a physical disc release," writes one response to the new tweet from RGG Studio. "I will also reply with my hope for a physical copy, to add to the count," reads another response. There's dozens of Twitter users reacting negatively to the announcement from the developer, putting forth their wishes for a physical version of Like a Dragon Gaiden.

We don't really know why the studio is forgoing a physical release, but we can have an educated guess. Remedy