Who would have thought, the Yakuza game franchise, which is now widely known and a huge success, was once rejected by Sega. Toshihiro Nagoshi, creator of the Yakuza franchise, revealed that Sega's initial proposal for the game was rejected. This fact was revealed by Nagoshi in the Weekly Ochiai program, as translated by Automaton.

Nagoshi revealed that when he first proposed the idea of ​​a Yakuza game to SEGA, they immediately rejected it. This rejection was because Sega considered the themes raised by Yakuza, which featured violence and adult content, did not suit market tastes then. Sega argued that the game would not appeal to children, women, and would likely not sell well outside Japan. Sega preferred to focus on games that had global appeal.

However, Nagoshi didn't give up. He continued to convince SEGA until they finally agreed to try making a Yakuza game. Nagoshi's efforts and beliefs paid off with the great success achieved by Yakuza. This franchise is now one of Sega's flagship games, with the latest series Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth breaking sales records when it was released last February.

The success of Yakuza proves that even if initially doubtful, with a strong vision and persistent effort, an idea can develop into something big and influential. The story of Nagoshi and the Yakuza is an inspiration that innovation and persistence can bring unexpected success.