Yakuza 4 to Feature In-Game Ads

Sega teams with Double Fusion to bring new tech to next Yakuza game.

2009-10-07 12:23 / Anoop Gantayat / Comments

With its vast array of real world product tie-ins, one might have mistakenly assumed that the Yakuza series has been using in-game advertising technology since the original PS2 entry. With part 4, Sega will be tapping true in-game ad tech through Double Fusion Japan.

Yakuza 4 will make use of Double Fusion Japan's Dynamic Ad technology, Double Fusion and Sega announced today. The technology allows games to stream in new ads over the internet. Double Fusion will handle sale of the ads.

Double Fusion recently made headlines with the announcement that the PS3 version of Winning Eleven 2010 would make use of the in-game ad technology. Sega actually preceded that announcement earlier in the year with an announcement of a partnership with Double Fusion, although specifics were not mentioned then.

As with past Yakuza games, part 4 is also set to see tie-ups with businesses like Matsuya and Boss, which will fill its realistic city settings with familiar billboards and storefronts. Like Winning Eleven, this is one game where in-game ads should fit right in.

Look for Yakuza 4, properly known here as Ryu ga Gotoku 4, at retail this Spring.