Sega: Kenzan localisation depends on Yakuza 4 success

Sega's discussed the matter of bringing over Yakuza spin-off Kenzan west, saying it's watching Yakuza 4's fortunes outside Japan.

"The only potential problem I personally see with Kenzan is that it takes an already niche audience here in the states and may break it down even more," a Sega US community rep said in a post on GAF.

"But there's something to be said about other popular Samurai games, even though gameplay wise, Kenzan is still very much a Yakuza title.

"It's amazing how much pre-orders can also help those numbers. Thank you to those fans reading this who already did pre-order, as even just one does make a difference in the end."

Yakuza Kenzan was a spin-off title that released in 2008 for PS3 in Japan. The game took place in the 1600s, as opposed to the traditionally contemporary Yakuza setting.

Yakuza 3, after much persuasion, got a release in the west last spring. Its sequel, Yakuza 4, releases in the UK on Friday.

Another spin-off, Of The End, releases this week in Japan for PS3.