Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Brings Enhanced Features and Multiplayer to Nintendo Switch 2

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Launches on Nintendo Switch 2: Enhanced Experience and Multiplayer Highlight SEGA’s Commitment For over a decade, SEGA’s Yakuza series—now a global sensation—has seen cautious but meaningful expansions to Nintendo’s hardware platforms.

Following the experimental port of Yakuza 1 + 2 HD to the Nintendo Wii U, the celebrated crime drama franchise returns with renewed focus.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, is poised to make its mark on Nintendo Switch 2, releasing globally at retail and on the Nintendo eShop on June 5, 2025. This release signals a pivotal moment for fans and Nintendo’s console history alike.

After last year’s arrival of Yakuza Kiwami on the original Nintendo Switch, Yakuza 0’s prequel narrative continues that momentum.

The Director’s Cut goes well beyond a standard port: it’s an upgraded, content-rich version that strengthens the franchise’s Nintendo offering. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut distinguishes itself through substantial improvements.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio undertook extensive work, introducing full English voice acting across its story-heavy campaign—a nuanced addition, given the series’ legacy of exclusively Japanese dialogue.

Industry veteran Matthew Mercer reprises his role as Goro Majima, bringing gravitas to newly recorded cutscenes and in-game interactions.

In preview sessions, the transition to English voices, while initially unexpected for longtime fans, was met with praise for enhancing accessibility and narrative immersion. The Director’s Cut also introduces new cinematic sequences, aiming to deepen the player’s insight into key events and character motivations.

While these expanded story elements were not fully on display during preview access, the enriched content is designed to provide fresh perspectives for returning players and newcomers alike.

Furthermore, localization is broadened by adding French, Italian, German, and Spanish subtitles—a clear step forward in Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s ongoing commitment to accessibility. In terms of gameplay, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut leverages the robust features of Nintendo Switch 2, including new quality-of-life improvements.

Among these is the welcome ability to save progress anywhere, replacing the need to locate specific save points—an update originally seen in Yakuza Kiwami’s Nintendo Switch release.

The game’s action-adventure formula, teeming with eccentric substories and city-spanning side activities, finds a natural home in handheld mode thanks to the Switch 2’s 1080p display. A headline addition is the Red Light Raid multiplayer mode, which pushes the series into cooperative territory.

Players can team up—locally or online—with up to four participants, facing waves of enemies in multi-stage challenge missions.

The character roster is impressive, offering 60 selectable combatants, including alternate fighting styles for mainstays like Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima.

Players earn in-game cash by clearing missions, unlocking new characters, or leveling up their favorites.

Multiplayer matchmaking is streamlined through easy-to-use Lobby IDs, and CPU partners can be added to fill out incomplete teams. Technically, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut maintains stable performance even during intense on-screen action and wireless multiplayer play—a testament to the advancements of Nintendo’s newest hardware and the expertise of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s development team. From its iconic brawling gameplay, vibrant storytelling, quirky mini-games, and unforgettable moments—like enlisting the help of the business-savvy chicken, Nugget—Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut is both a celebration of the series and a testament to SEGA’s dedication to Nintendo platforms.

As the game launches on June 5, 2025, it solidifies the Yakuza franchise’s long-term presence on Nintendo Switch 2, enriching the console’s already diverse game lineup.

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