By now we know that a new Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku) game is in development at Sega and the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has an interview with Director Toshihiro Nagoshi and Producer Masayoshi Yokoyama that give a few (very few) initial pieces of information on the upcoming game, and most interestingly explain why it will still be cross-generation.

Below you can find a translation of the most relevant questions and answers (the rest is about the auditions to appear in the game):

Interviewer: I know we cannot ask about the details of the new Yakuza title, but may I ask if the next game in the series will be a numbered title?

Yokoyama: I'm sorry to say but at this current time all we can tell you is that the next game is not a spin-off and we would really like people to just think about what we will be achieving next.

Interviewer: Due to the fact that a new game in the Yakuza series is already being developed,  I'm sure everyone will be happy and looking forward to the next game even if there aren't specific details...

Yokoyama: Exactly, and I'm glad hear that. Previous entries in the series had more characters and improvements in the engine itself which the fans liked, and we are hoping that the fans will be looking forward to this new game.

Interviewer: So what hardware are you planning to release the game on?

Nagoshi: We will be releasing it on the PS3 and PS4. There are many fans who are still playing on the PS3 and we want to make it available to that system as well for them, while simultaneously we want to release the game for people who have bought and looking forward to a next gen feeling with the PS4, it'll be very similar to how Ishin was released.

Interviewer: The team for the development of the game will be exactly like Ishin, with Nagoshi-san as the general director and Yokoyama-san whom working on the screenplay as well as covering the role of producer, correct?

Yokoyama: That is correct, although we do have additional staff who will also be producing and working on the screenplay in order to strengthen our development process.

Interviewer: I know you cannot divulge any information on the game itself, but is there any way you could give us a hint of some kind?

Nagoshi: I sincerely apologize, but we cannot talk about anything regarding this new game, although at this current stage we could say that a “downtown district” will appear in one shape or form.

Niceties and "no comments" aside, it's not so surprising that Sega is still targeting the PS3, considering that the PS4 is still in the process of taking off in Japan, and the Yakuza series definitely aims to the archipelago of the Rising Sun as its most relevant (hopefully not the only one) target. It's also interesting to see that the production team is being strengthened, opening the possibility to see a bigger Yakuza game.

For now, we'll have to wait for more information. You can definitely expect to read all about it here on DualShockers, just as soon as Nagoshi-san and Yokoyama-san will be ready to share.

[Translation by Jack Griffiths]