First details for 'Yakuza 5' emerge

As reported by the Sinobi blog and translated by Andriasang, four characters return from previous games, with one newcomer.

The series's main character Kazuma Kiryu is back, alongside young female orphan Haruka Sawamura, as are Yakuza 4's deadly Tojo Clan member Taiga Saejima and the ex-vagrant, rich businessman Shun Akiyama.

New on the block is Tatsuo Shinada, banned from professional baseball after getting caught up in gambling.

Where 2005's Yakuza was modeled on Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, locations in Yakuza 5 are to include the cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka.

The series's customary blend of action, adventure and frivolous diversion makes a comeback, with plenty of party games for well-monied gangsters to take part in after beating each other up all day.

December's thought to be the month for Yakuza 5 in Japan; though Sega has not yet confirmed its game for PlayStation 3 elsewhere, previous entries have made it to North America and Europe roughly a year after their Japanese debut.

Before then, Square Enix plans to release the Hong Kong-based crime caper Sleeping Dogs in August; the PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC title hadn't been given a definite Japanese date, but that is likely to emerge once Yakuza 5's fate has been cleared up.