Take this one with a grain of salt, but a recent Tweet from Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada has Yakuza fans giddy with glee. In an image showing off some work from the development room, eagle-eyed fans were quick to note that a picture of Lee features the character in a stage not currently selectable. It also has the logo of the Japanese restaurant chain “Matsuya’s,” which is frequently featured in Sega’s Japan simulator.

Now, this could be a series of coincidences. Harada is also known for being a practical joker, once teasing that Kangaroo character Roger Jr. wasn’t in the game due to “animal activists.” He also likes to take the piss whenever he gets a chance, so the inclusion of the Matsuya’s logo might just be a prank. Still, fans have been clamoring for Kiryu’s inclusion and he would be an excellent fit for the series.

What is leading some credence to this speculation is that Bandai Namco was planning to reveal new content for Tekken 7 at the now-canceled EVO Online. Tekken 7 is also no stranger to guest characters, featuring a whopping four in total. If Noctis from Final Fantasy XV can somehow make the cut, why not Kiryu?

A lot of this adds up. Sega is gearing up to launch Yakuza: Like a Dragon later this year and Bandai Namco is still promoting Tekken 7. With the game becoming the best selling title in the series’ history, what better way to capitalize on fan hype than by mashing to two franchises together?

Even if it doesn’t end up being true, Tekken 7 is a remarkably polished fighting game. It may not be my personal favorite (I have a fondness for Tekken Tag Tournament 2), but the game is far better than whatever Capcom has been doing with Street Fighter V. Hell, it even has Akuma on the roster, so you can pretend it’s the real Street Fighter successor.

I’d be floored if Kiryu appeared and would absolutely jump at buying him. Let’s hope that Harada isn’t pulling one of his jokes, because I’m dead serious in saying Yakuza in Tekken would make it my favorite fighter currently available.

Source: Twitter

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