The yet-to-be-released "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3" (Ryu Ga Gotoku Kiwami 3) has ignited a massive debate within the gaming community, all thanks to recent data mining leaks. Multiple data miners claim they've unearthed what appears to be the full script within the demo, suggesting the game could drastically rewrite the original ending of "Like a Dragon 3" and potentially send shockwaves through the entire series.
According to the leaks, Mine Yoshitaka, a pivotal character who seemingly met his demise by falling from a building in the original "Like a Dragon 3" ending, might actually survive in "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3" and even join the Daidoji Faction. If this radical change holds true, it would directly impact the premise of "Like a Dragon 4" and force a complete re-evaluation of the entire series timeline.
One player pointed out that "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" (referred to as "Dark Ties" in the article), a spin-off bundled with "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3," is a prequel starring Mine Yoshitaka, and its ending has already been leaked online.
"The ending for 'Dark Ties' has been leaked, and the changes are massive — so significant they'll even rewrite the setup for 'Like a Dragon 4'," the player stated. Another self-proclaimed data miner added, "I was skeptical at first, but after using tools to analyze the demo, I definitely found evidence of the new ending in the files."
However, these claims clash with previous official statements. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced last September that remakes "would not make major story changes," only adding details and motivations behind certain character actions. Therefore, it's still unclear whether the data-mined content represents the final version or merely leftover data from a testing phase.
Observers also note that this controversy arrives amidst several recent turbulences for the series. Beyond the debate over a potential ending rewrite, fans have previously demanded the removal of Teruyuki Kagawa, who played Hamazaki Go, after the actor admitted to involvement in a sexual misconduct incident in 2019.
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Furthermore, the official announcement recently confirmed that "Like a Dragon 3 Remastered" will cease individual sales after "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties" launches. New players looking to experience the original story will only be able to do so via a series collection.
The only certainty right now is that the truth will be revealed soon enough. "Like a Dragon Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties" is slated for release on February 12, 2026, across PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and previous-gen consoles. That's when players will finally discover whether Mine Yoshitaka truly "returns from the dead" and if the series' lore gets a complete overhaul.
via： Eurogamer.net