Sega has announced the English voiceover cast for the upcoming Yakuza 0: Director's Cut on Nintendo Switch 2, launching on 5th June 2025. In addition, the new theme song “Bubble” by Shōnan no Kaze has been introduced in a new trailer, which you can view above.
Headlining the cast is YouTuber and voice actor Yong Yea, who will be providing the voice for protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Meanwhile, Topher Ngo will take care of singing duties during specific minigames. We've also got the likes of David Hayter, Matt Mercer, Kaiji Tang, Risa Mei, and more.
Truth be told, we'll probably be playing the game with the original Japanese voiceover, just for that added authenticity. But if you'd rather have English dialogue when playing, it's good that the option has been added, at least.
Let's check out the full cast announcement:
- Kazuma Kiryu –Yong Yea / Topher Ngo (Singing)
- Goro Majima – Matt Mercer
- Akira Nishikiyama – Kaiji Tang / Greg Chun (Singing)
- Makoto Makimura – Risa Mei
- Osamu Kashiwagi – David Hayter
- Jun Oda – Alejandro Saab
- Makoto Makimura – Risa Mei
- Tsukasa Sagawa – Andrew Kishino
- Tetsu Tachibana – Howard Wang
- Wen Hai Lee – Bill Millsap
- Daisaku Kuze – Keston John
- Hiroki Awano – Eliah Mountjoy
- Homare Nishitani – Vic Chao
- Keiji Shibusawa – Jon Ohye
- Masaru Sera – Nobi Nakanishi
- Osamu Kashiwagi – David Hayter
- Billiken – Adam Gold
- Sohei Dojima – Imari Williams
- Takashi Nihara – Frank Todaro
- Futoshi Shimano – Fred Tatasciore
- Shintaro Kazama – Paul Nakauchi
- Homare Nishitani – Vic Chao
To get a flavour of how the English voiceover work will come across in the game, two clips featuring Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima have also been shared.
What are your thoughts on the English voiceover work for Yakuza 0? Let us know with a comment – and if you're not a fan, please do keep it respectful.
Comments 47
David Hayter is a great VA so I could play this in the English dub and probably appreciate it.
It sounds better than an old Japanese martial arts series called MONKEY (or monkey magic in the uk) back in the late 70s early 80s. YouTube it 😆!
I love to see it! Definitely grabbing this when I have window to play it!
This makes such a huge difference. I appreciate the fact they added English voice acting and actually hired quality VAs.
That's cool that they're doing that. I'm sure there will be some complaining about Yong, but he actually did a great job.
Just too bad it's a game key cartridge, otherwise it'd be the third time I bought this game, next to the standard PS4 and limited run release.
There’s some all star names here; Greg chun (Ike from fire emblem), David hayter (Solid Snake and Big Boss, excellent choice for kashiwagi) Alejandro Saab (Akihiko Sanada, his voice is nearly perfect for Oda.) Impressive, but not enough for me to pay 70 CAD when I own the original. The people that haven’t played this yet though, I highly recommend playing 0 in some form or another, it’s a masterpiece
I'm currently playing the Deadly Premonition series and loving it, sounds like the natural step up from that is Yakuza so I guess I have my work cut out for me.
Also Solid Snake was one of my massive game crushes for a long time, Hayter is a big "get" for this cast.
Recently went through all of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii dubbed and the voicework was top notch.
Yay, can’t wait for 2 and 6!
(All for the sake of glorious Virtua Fighter!!!)
Part of me was hoping they’d recast Kiryu’s English VA. I couldn’t take his voice in Infinite Wealth, just doesn’t fit the character at all.
That said, all you folks who get to play 0 for the first time will have a blast!
I'll definitely keep the Japanese voices myself (not only that's my preference, but it will also be good practice) - that said, pretty cool addition!
Perfect, I'll actually be able to play casually with the TV on in the background without having to focus on reading subtitles
Kiryu's voice is fine, although I prefer the gruffer Japanese voice actor. Matt Mercer is an incredible voice actor, and that clip fits Majima perfectly for the early game, but I wonder if he'll do Majima's insane persona at the end of the game justice.
I actually think Yong Yea's performance works better with young Kiryu than it did as old Kiryu in Infinite Wealth. And Matt Mercer is PERFECT as Majima
I saw “David Hayter” and instantly clicked.
Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAKE!!!!
@karatekid1612 I loved Monkey back in the day. The game Black Myth: Wukong that came out recently, is actually based on it.
@OorWullie lol your joking, ha will have a look at that right after replying to you!
Uuwait...
Is this Newly snychronized ?
If not: why bother listing em again, if the og game already did ?
@OorWullie yep just had a look and you are right lol!!
Looking forward to making this Switch 2 eshop purchase number 1. Masterpiece of a game that’ll work brilliantly on the go.
@axelhander @ElkinFencer10 Mercer really impressed me with his Majima in Pirate Yakuza.
@TheBigK Considering how many scenes in the game DON'T have voice work?
You might as well keep the JP
I’ll definitely stick to Japanese.
I wasn’t tempted to get this again until now. I love the original voice actors and all, but it’s a better experience for me when I can understand what’s being said without reading subtitles. I’ve really enjoyed the English cast in the LAD series and Gaiden/Pirate, so I’m definitely more tempted to give this a second go now.
@ElkinFencer10 Majima’s insane what???
(Matt Mercer is Yusuke’s English va in P5)
Yong Yea is a terrible voice actor and his voice does not match Kiryu at all.
It's unfortunate because the rest of the cast is really good.
Hell yeah, I like Yong Yea
Is there anything Fred Tatasciore isn't in?
Can’t wait to play this at launch. Only Yakuza game I’ve played is Like a Dragon. I’m looking forward to playing a more traditional Yakuza game. I’m just still undecided if I’m going to get the game key card or just admit physical is dead and get it digitally. Either way it’s one of my day one purchases
@Pat_trick I agree 100%. I might just change to English for the majima parts but keep it in Japanese for the kiryu parts.
I dont care usually about english voiceover in japanese games, but man, I gotta check out Matt Mercer doing Majima hahahah
Replaying this with the dub! I figured Kaiji would be voicing Nishiki since him and Ichiban already share their actors.
@maulinks You’re gonna love the karaoke. Matt has a great singing voice and nailed the songs in Pirate Yakuza!
Dubbed isn't what I think most buyers are concerned with it's the lack of Physical cart game but given only "Key-Card".
Can't stand that Yong Yea (not his real name) guy, why not just get Darryl Kurylo back to voice Kiryu again?
First time players are in for a treat.. Story-rich.
Yong Yea as Kazuma Kiryu Nah I'll stick to the original Japanese lol
Cool they added an English dub for this, but long since got used to Japanese Kiryu and especially Majima. Their stoic and craziness respectively is difficult to emulate which fits the Japanese themes of Yakuza as a whole. Hearing English dub Kiryu in last game didn’t give the best impression though.
I dislike Yong Yea’s voice acting—his performance is terrible, and his YouTube channel thrives on negativity and plagiarism. I’ll be sticking with the original Japanese VO. If you need proof of how bad his voice acting is, just listen to 'Shinpan - Karaoke Song' from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
Is there an option to put everyone in English EXCEPT Kiryu speaking?
Jesus... keeping the English Kiryu is a choice. Sega isn't known for making good ones, after all.
No. Subs all the way.
I’ll use the English dub to be honest and appreciate that they added it. I hope to see the rest of the series soon on Switch 2. Big fan of Yakuza games here.
Real Yakuza use a gamepad... and JP voices.
Maybe if they recast Mark Hamill as Majima. This way, not interested.
The Yakuza English dub has the same problem I have with the Latin American Spanish dub of the Sonic movies featuring Luisito Comunica, a youtuber, as Sonic: Of I wanted to hear his voice (which I don't), I'd watch one of his videos (which I don't want to).
Guess I'll play it with the Japanese voices, however David Hayter's voices won't go unappreciated.
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