Yakuza 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 have seemingly been added to Game Pass again

videogameschronicle.com:

Three Yakuza games that were previously removed from Xbox Game Pass appear to have been added to the service again.

Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2 were removed in December 2021, but their listings on the Xbox store allow Game Pass subscribers to download them again, as spotted by XGP.

Xbox has yet to confirm the next batch of Game Pass titles for July 2022, so it’s not yet clear if this is a listing error or if all three games are returning as part of the latest Game Pass library update.

If their return is legitimate, it means the entire Yakuza series is once again available to play on Game Pass.

Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4, Yakuza 5, Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon are all still available on the service – only Yakuza 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 were removed last year.

The Yakuza series is in the midst of upheaval, following the departure of Yakuza creator and Sega creative director Toshihiro Nagoshi in October 2021.

Nagoshi left to form a new developer, Nagoshi Studio, and was initially joined by eight other staff members including Yakuza series director and producer Daisuke Sato.

As Nagoshi Studio begins work on its first project, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio – the developer responsible for the Yakuza series – has been developing the sequel to Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Ryu Ga Gotoku is also said to be working on a completely new IP separate from the Yakuza and Judgment series it’s known for.

“As of today, a new Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is born where the series will live on,” Nagoshi said upon leaving Sega. “Though I don’t know for sure what they will create, I believe the new generation will further enhance the foundation we built over the years and deliver great games to the world.”