Yakuza 3 won't go west, says SEGA
US launch ruled out, "no plans" for Europe.
The third instalment in the Yakuza series isn't going to make it outside of Japan, by the looks of things.
A SEGA spokesperson told Eurogamer there are "currently no plans" to release the game in Europe.
Meanwhile, the Examiner reports that a US release has been ruled out by SEGA. Only 40,000 copies of the second game were sold over there, and the first one didn't do much better.
We imported a copy of Yakuza 3 back in May and gave it a big fat 8/10. Read the review if you're feeling wistful.
IGN Fan Fest Returns in 2026, promising over 80 exclusive reveals (and appearances from over 50 games)
See my Fest.
This February, IGN Fan Fest returns for its seventh edition with a jam-packed lineup of the biggest games, movies, TV and streaming series and more. Fans will be able to watch celebrity interviews, exclusive gameplay, trailers, and deep dives across some of the biggest new and upcoming titles from the worlds of games and entertainment.
IGN promises it will have more than 100 exclusive reveals across two days of livestreams 25th February and 26th February, starting at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST each day. Plus, IGN promises that it will count down to the main show (starting Monday, 23rd February) with additional first-looks, exclusives, and in-depth interviews.
The follow appearances have already been confirmed:
- Simu Liu
- Melissa Barrera
- Kenny Omega
- Zach Braff
- Sarah Chalke
- Donald Faison
- Bob Odenkirk
- Lashana Lynch
- Genndy Tartakovsky
- Jonathan Smith, Strategic Director & Head of Development Team, TT Games
- And More!
But if you're more into games than celebs, don't worry, there are also over 50 games taking part in the celebration - so expect more trailers, announcements, reveals and more to go live over the two days of the FanFest proper. Games confirmed to take part in the show so far include:
- 007 First Light
- Crimson Desert
- Invincible VS
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
- Poppy Playtime
- Powerwash Simulator 2
- Street Fighter 6
- WWE 2K26
- Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes
- Bellwright
- Bus Simulator 27
- Celestial Return
- Denshattack!
- Directive 8020
- Dreadmoor
- Esoteric Ebb
- Everwind
- Frostrail
- Gallipoli
- Gambonanza
- Gate Guard Simulator
- Going Medieval
- Hela
- Heroes of Newerth Reborn
- HITMAN
- Imprinted
- Join Us
- Kiln
- Mexican Ninja
- Minos
- Mistfall Hunter
- Mixtape
- MONOWAVE
- Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
- Necrophosis: Full Consciousness
- Out Fishing
- Outbound
- Outward 2
- Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
- Poppy Playtime
- PowerWash Simulator 2
- Ranger's Path National Park Simulator
- Samson
- Second Stone
- Solarpunk
- Space Scum
- Tears of Metal
- Threads of Time
- Town to City
- Until Then
- Valorborn
- Vampire Crawlers
- Verminsteel
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2
- Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy
- Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- Where Winds Meet
- WILL: Follow the Light
- Windrose
- Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis
You can watch IGN Fan Fest on the following platforms on 25th February and 26th February at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST:
- IGN.com
- IGN's YouTube
- Steam
- Twitter / X
- Twitch
- IGN mobile apps
- Eurogamer
- VG247
- GamesIndsutry.biz
- Rock Paper Shotgun
While we wait a little longer for the exciting winter event, check out all the biggest announcements from IGN's October edition of Fan Fest including a sneak peek at Predator: Badlands, an exclusive look at The Witcher Season 4, a behind the scenes look at Return to Silent Hill, an exclusive interview with Keanu Reeves, a brand-new trailer from Dispatch, and a deep dive into Terminator 2D: No Fate.
Relaxing anime-inspired life sim Starsand Island sets February early access launch on PC and Xbox, full multi-platform release coming in summer
Feel the breeze.
If you think we've had enough takes on Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley formula, think again. Starsand Island is almost ready to invite players into a "peaceful paradise," and its looks alone could seal the deal for many lapsed farmers.
The game, teased again during the last Tokyo Game Show, comes from Chinese developer Seed Sparkle Lab, who has decided to first drop it on Steam Early Access and Xbox Preview in order to "finalise the comprehensive content and finesse the end-game experience." After that period, which is supposedly ending in mid-2026, the game will hit 1.0 on Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and even macOS.
On top of the striking cozy anime aesthetic covering it all, Starsand Island's secret weapon might be its bigger focus on side activities which aren't strictly related to running a farm and more open-ended building and customization options. NPC relationships and fluffy animal companions will play huge roles as well.
There's even vehicles like roller blades and hoverboards, with cars and motorbikes serving as bigger, more traditional means of transport. Online multiplayer won't be supported when the game hits early access on 11th February, but it's coming with the full release. In fact, the devs are encouraging cooperative crafting and construction through "extensive DIY" systems that aim to remove a few of the usual guard rails.
The developers have been quite open about the entire creative process for months now, and that included shooting down accusations of genAI use. Our quick look at the game's official Discord server has also revealed a strong anti-AI stance in its community, so at the time of writing, it seems free of slop.
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Two Silent Hill f actors are now tourism ambassadors for the city that inspired the game's rural Japanese village
No surprise marriage here.
Silent Hill f was one of last year's biggest surprises and marked a return to form for the veteran horror game franchise (if we don't count the SH2 remake). With a strong cast of characters, a 1960s Japan setting, and a dense atmosphere, it made an impression on veterans and newcomers alike. Now, two members of the main cast have been made ambassadors of the city that inspired the game's rural village.
Via IGN, we've learned about the surprising YouTube short posted on 2nd February by Takeshi Masago and Tamami Hiraoka, who played Hinako's (the protagonist) father and mother respectively. At first, fans thought they had a serious announcement to make given the video's initial tone, but it all ends with excitement and screaming as they reveal they've been made tourism ambassadors for Gero City in Japan's Gifu Prefecture.
The Kanayama-cho area, filled with "narrow alleyways and old houses" that instantly look familiar, served as the main inspiration for Silent Hill f's fictional Ebisugaoka village. Here's an image of the real-life location:
The wholesome video also serves as the culmination of an ongoing saga that had many of the viewers following the pair of actors' clips together wishing they were married in real life (and hopefully in a healthier relationship than in the game). Many thought for a second they were getting married for real, but they're keeping things professional, so calm down.
Masago has also been promoting Gero City for a while now, wine brewery included. There's even Silent Hill f themed sake and chocolates now, with the first batch selling out instantly. It's yet another example of a Japan-set mainstream video game bringing lots of attention to certain areas of the country.
Only a few years ago, Tsushima Island got a massive boost to tourism following the release of Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima too. That also led to the game's lead devs becoming permanent tourism ambassadors of the city.
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
