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This should provide hope to those who have been longing for a localized Yakuza 3 release. German retailer amazon.de has added a listing for the Japanese crime game, with a scheduled release of March 12th.

Sega isn't commenting on the listing, but a localization has been rumored since July. While still unconfirmed, this listing adds credence to a project that seems like a no-brainer, considering the franchise's tremendous success in Japan.

[Via 1UP]

If fanboys complain loudly enough, can they get a game localized for an English release? The answer appears to be: yes, at least according to an unnamed 1UP source "close to the project," who says that "Yakuza 3 is currently being localized for release in the U.S. and European markets."

If true, it'll be interesting to see if people will actually buy the game. The late-to-the-party PS2 release of Yakuza 2 was largely ignored. Could Yakuza 3 meet the same fate, now that Yakuza 4 is already on its way to Japan?

[Thanks, Marius!]

Try not to think too much about the Yakuza 4 that was just announced to an eager Japanese audience. It doesn't look like Yakuza 3 is going to make it outside of Japan, and that doesn't bode well for its sequel, either.

Sega Europe told VG247 that it has "no current plans" to localize Toshihiro Nagoshi's open-world brawler/RPG. A Sega of America employee offered his opinion to The Examiner, saying that the sales of Yakuza 2 were insufficient to justify localization of the PS3 title. Officially, according to statements given to Siliconera by a Sega rep, there is "no confirmation" of any decision regarding Yakuza 3.

Maybe we should all go clear our local GameStop's shelves of Yakuza 2.

Yakuza 3 is quite a success in Japan. In fact, Sega is reporting that the game has sold over 500,000 copies in the region since its February debut. It's the second PS3 title to reach the 500k milestone, following the success of Metal Gear Solid 4.

With a sexy custom PS3 bundle and solid first week sales of 380,000 copies, Yakuza 3 was poised to easily surpass the half a million mark. Now, Sega just needs to worry about real Yakuza showing up at its offices and collecting a debt for using their image and likeness. Yikes, where's Kiryu Kazuma when you need him?

According to early data uncovered by the Japanese site, Drill-No Blog, Yakuza 3 has sold 380,000 units in its first week -- the second-best launch for a PS3 game in that country. If the numbers are accurate, Yakuza 3 (Ry? ga Gotoku 3 in Japan) will only have been bested by Konami's 2008 powerhouse, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which sold around 465,000 units in its first week. Unfortunately, according to a comment Sega made to VG247, Western gamers may never get a chance to continue the adventures of Kiryu Kazuma as the publisher has no plans to bring the game to North America at this time.

[Via N4G]

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3) may lack an exclamation point in its title -- unlike predecessor Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan! -- but that doesn't mean the excitement over it is any less. In fact, Sega made sure that Yakuza 3's February 26 launch would go off with a bang (figuratively, not literally! No gangster shootings here) with signing sessions and free swag give-aways.

IGN was in Japan to capture the festivities, snapping pictures of the crowd and checking out the signing sessions with Producer Toshihiro Nagoshi. Surprisingly, Toshihiro went around to three different retail stores in the Tokyo area for launch day signing events. That's some love for the hardcore gamer right there. Some stores were raffling off prizes such as post cards, clear files and limited edition Yakuza t-shirts. Check out IGN for more pics.

Looks like Sega is following Criterion's footsteps with its upcoming Yakuza 3. Siliconera reports that Sega is planning eight weeks of free post-release DLC for the game. 29 downloads will be added, ranging from special missions to new items. Supposedly the DLC will work much like Burnout Paradise's free content: simply boot up the game and new content will be added automatically -- no need to visit the PlayStation Store at all!

Sega of America has not announced a US release for Yakuza 3. We're sure that if Sega does decide to localize the game, this additional content will also be available to non-Japanese players.

Japan's next big game is coming out exclusively for PS3. Yakuza 3 launches in the territory next week and to get people psyched, Sega has released a demo on the PlayStation Network.

The importance of the Yakuza series is, for the most part, lost to non-Japanese gamers. The first two PS2 games didn't exactly garner much fanfare when localized versions were released in the US. The series has always been uniquely Japanese, from its setting to its story to the gameplay. Although it may be Japan's interpretation of the Grand Theft Auto series, playing the demo reveals how antiquated the series still is. While Western developers have refined gameplay and storytelling, Yakuza 3 feels decidedly dated.

For example, the visuals are inconsistent, repeating a technique Japanese developers loved employing during the PS2 era. The cutscenes look fantastic, with detailed character models, animations and voice acting. Switching to gameplay immediately reveals a significantly watered down look that's missing all the details featured in the non-interactive sequences. The disparity between playable and non-playable visuals is rather immense. Scrolling through lines of text instead of hearing more of the (very solid) voice acting reinforces the feeling that corners were cut to finish the game.

Oh no! It's the world's saddest Sackboy! Hopefully, this second edition of Cool Stuff for Sunday will cheer him up.

• Sessler's Soapbox attacks fanboys (NSFW)
• Yakuza 3: why you want it
  
• TIME goes Home
  
• Weekly Trophy Portal update
• PS Nation podcast - Episode 99 "KILLZONE 2!!!"

Sega is promoting the upcoming Yakuza 3 (Ryu ga Gotoku 3 in Japan) with tie-ins to various businesses, in which real-life businesses offer Yakuza-themed goods, and digital versions of those same operations appear in the game. The latest company to promote the RPG/brawler is Tanning Studio Sole, a chain of tanning salons.

From February 13 to March 15, Sole stores will offer Yakuza 3-themed prepaid cards, and will display Yakuza 3 posters in-store. In turn, Sole billboards will add authenticity to the game's environment (while providing money to Sega).

We're guessing that this promotion came about when producer Toshihiro Nagoshi discovered that he had pumped so much money into Sole that he now owns it. Okay, we know the Nagoshi tan joke is obvious, but seriously, the man is flame-broiled. You can't ignore a "coincidence" like that.

[Via IGN; screen via Inside-Games]