Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties Demo Goes Live Today as PC System Requirements Are Revealed
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and SEGA confirmed that a free demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties will roll out later today across all platforms, with PC getting early access before consoles follow at a later window. The release cadence is structured by platform, which means players who want first hands on time should prioritize the PC drop, while PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2 players will have to wait for the later release window.
Demo release timing by platform
| Platform | Pacific Time (PT) | Taiwan Time (GMT+8) |
|---|---|---|
| PC | 7:00 AM, January 22, 2026 | 11:00 PM, January 22, 2026 |
| PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X and S Nintendo Switch 2 |
9:00 PM, January 22, 2026 | 1:00 PM, January 23, 2026 |
SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio also set clear expectations around the demo structure. Save data will not carry over into the full game, positioning this as a pure try before you buy experience rather than a progress head start. That matters for completion focused players and content creators planning launch coverage, because demo time invested will be strictly for evaluation, mechanics testing, and vibe checks, not for early progression.
Demo includes:
Yakuza Kiwami 3:
Players explore Ryukyu in Okinawa as Kazuma Kiryu, with brawler combat supported by dynamic style switching between Dragon of Dojima Kiwami style and the weapon oriented Ryukyu style. Classic series side content is also represented, including karaoke, substories, and outfit customization.
Dark Ties:
Players get an all new story centered on Yoshitaka Mine, with Kamurocho exploration and activities, plus Mine’s shoot boxing combat designed to deliver a more stylish, aggressive flow compared to Kiryu’s toolkit.
This package matters because it is not only a remake showcase, it is also a narrative and mechanical expansion play. Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties was announced during the RGG Summit 2025 in September, and the studio is framing it as an extreme remake of Yakuza 3, originally released in 2009 for PlayStation 3 before later platform appearances. Dark Ties is positioned as new content with a prequel style narrative lens, following Mine as he willingly descends into the Yakuza world after losing everything, driven by a search for genuine bonds and purpose.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties launches February 12, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Preorders are live, and preorder customers will receive a bonus item called Legendary Lad Ichiban Kasuga, which adds Ichiban Kasuga to the Ryukyu Gal Gang.
PC system requirements revealed
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor |
Intel Core i3-8100 (3.6 GHz) AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (3.5 GHz) |
Intel Core i5-8700K (3.7 GHz) AMD Ryzen 5 2600X (3.6 GHz) |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB) AMD Radeon RX 6400 (4 GB) Intel Arc A380 (6 GB) |
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12 GB) AMD Radeon RX 7600 (8 GB) Intel Arc A770 (8 GB) |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 58 GB available space | 58 GB available space |
| Sound Card | Windows compatible audio device | Windows compatible audio device |
| Additional Notes |
Low 1080p at 30 FPS with Balanced FSR 1.0 Requires a CPU that supports AVX and SSE4.2 instruction sets |
High 1080p at 60 FPS without FSR Requires a CPU that supports AVX and SSE4.2 instruction sets |
Alongside the demo announcement, the Steam store page was updated to publish the official PC system requirements. If you are planning coverage, performance testing, or a handheld PC compatibility angle, this is the moment to align your benchmark plans around the published spec targets.
Are you jumping into the demo for Kiryu’s Okinawa return first, or are you more interested in Dark Ties and Yoshitaka Mine’s shoot boxing focused storyline?
