‘Players should absolutely not skip it’: Yakuza Kiwami 3’s Director Says Orphanage Life Sim Section Is the Game’s Most Important New Feature

Ryosuke Horii, director of Yakuza Kiwami 3, has called the expanded Morning Glory orphanage content “the most essential” part of the remake, urging players not to rush or skip it when the game launches on 12 February 2026 on all major platforms.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is set for release on 12 February 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PS4 and PC, featuring a comprehensive remake of the 2009 classic originally released on PS3. The game’s director, Ryosuke Horii, has stated that the newly overhauled Life at Morning Glory orphanage section is now “the most essential content in the game,” and insists, “players should absolutely not skip it.” This section now functions as a substantial life simulation, featuring new gameplay where players cook, harvest vegetables, help children with homework, sew, fish, and catch bugs, all designed to deepen protagonist Kazuma Kiryu’s relationship with the orphanage’s children. Each child features their own unique substory, greatly enriching the bonds Kiryu forms as their father figure.

In a detailed interview attended by Automaton, Horii explained: “I consider Life at Morning Glory to be the most essential content in the game, and I think players should absolutely not skip it. That’s because the story of the Morning Glory Orphanage in Yakuza 3 was fragmentary. While it did depict the bond between Kiryu and the children, we realised that their story lacked depth.” He emphasised that the remake’s approach transforms the opening chapters into a much larger, more immersive segment that feels integral to the story and player experience, rather than a mere introduction.

Director’s Intent: Parental Depth and Everyday Life in Yakuza Kiwami 3

Horii explained the motivation behind completely reworking the orphanage section, clarifying that it was driven by both narrative and personal reasons. “The reason why Life at Morning Glory is more akin to a life simulation game is because I wanted to depict Kiryu as a father. I think a father is not someone who’s only there to give good advice when something happens.” Horii, sharing his own experience as a parent, added, “I myself am a father, and I think that a big part of child rearing is based around interactions you make through daily chores. That’s how you get to build mutual trust and have your kid open up to you.” This directorial approach ensures gameplay closely mirrors the routine and emotional texture of raising children, which had only been touched on superficially in the original release.

The original Yakuza 3 provided only a brief glimpse into Morning Glory, known as Sunshine Orphanage in Western releases. In Yakuza Kiwami 3, this setting is no longer a prelude but a robust life-sim sequence. Players now have to actively participate in daily life, managing chores, helping with homework, and guiding the children emotionally and practically. Each orphanage child is integrated into the game’s structure through individual substories, built around player choices and interactions. This expansion fills what Horii described as the original’s “lack of depth” in the relationships between Kiryu and the children, forging a stronger emotional anchor for the narrative that follows.

New Features, Release Date, and Key Enhancements

• Release Date: 12 February 2026 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PS4, PC)
• Main Feature: Greatly expanded “Life at Morning Glory” orphanage section, now a core life sim element
• Activities: Cooking, gardening, homework help, sewing, fishing, bug catching, and building relationships via substories
• Director’s Statement: “I consider Life at Morning Glory to be the most essential content in the game, and I think players should absolutely not skip it.”
• Additional Content: Includes Dark Ties, a new spin-off game starring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine
• Retro Extras: Features twelve playable Game Gear titles

This remake is not just a visual overhaul, but adds critical new content designed to broaden the emotional and thematic core of the story. The explicit life simulation features and substories at the orphanage directly link player engagement to the game’s major narrative arcs, reflecting Horii’s intention for a more authentic depiction of Kazuma Kiryu’s life outside of combat and crime drama. The new approach also supports the franchise’s tradition of blending high-stakes melodrama with grounded, intimate everyday moments.

Yakuza Kiwami 3’s reimagined orphanage experience has already drawn significant anticipation, both from long-time fans and new players, as the director’s insistence raises expectations that these scenes will be pivotal to understanding the game’s emotional stakes. By prioritising slow, everyday life tasks alongside dramatic main quests, the remake offers a unique balance of genres for this landmark release in the long-running Yakuza series.