source: (1up.com)

While we're still waiting on official confirmation that Yakuza 3 is indeed being localized for western release, Amazon Germany has appeared to provide further unofficial evidence that fans of the series should keep up hope. A listing for Yakuza 3 has appeared on the Amazon Germany site, where it's apparently set for a March release.

We were told back in September by a source close to the project that game was in fact undergoing localization for an eventual U.S. release, but Sega has yet to confirm it. VG247 also contacted Sega concerning this Amazon Germany listing, but were given a standard "no comment" response by a Sega representative. Still, this seems to provide more hope that the series will once again make its way outside of Japan.

So far only the original Yakuza and its sequel have been released in the U.S. Yakuza 3, which was released in Japan back in February, is actually the fourth game in the series as it follows a spin-off title set in Kyoto during the Edo period (which was also released only in Japan in March of last year). And even if (when?) Yakuza 3 finally does make it state-side, we're still going to be behind: Sega already announced Yakuza 4 (confusingly, the fifth game in the series) back in July.