It turns out Sega's April Fool's joke this year was actually just a sneak preview at the brand new direction of one of it's most popular franchises, as Yakuza 7 will swap the action-based combat of previous titles for a turn-based JRPG system instead. The Yakuza series is a bizarre mix of crime, drama, and complete insanity, and it's unique position within gaming has garnered it an incredibly dedicated following that began expanding rapidly in the west after the release of Yakuza 0.

It's arguable whether or not there's ever been a more relevant time for the Yakuza franchise in North American and European markets. There are remasters of Yakuza 3 through 5 heading to the PS4 over the next several months, and that's likely being done because of the surprising success of Judgment, a Yakuza spin-off that was most notable before its launch for having a drug scandal with one of its Japanese voice actors. The previously mentioned Yakuza 0 seemed to lay the groundwork for building a larger fanbase outside of Japan, and Judgment followed through on some of that promise. If the remasters perform as well as they look like they will, Yakuza will be a hot property heading into the release of Yakuza 7.

Related: Judgment Review – Law & Order: Kamurocho

That's why it's so strange that Sega revealed earlier that Yakuza 7 will trade the action-based combat that has been the backbone of the series' gameplay for a JRPG turn-based system instead. With so many people coming onboard the Yakuza bandwagon in recent years, it's a bold move to completely change the direction of the game, with players selecting commands like attack and defense for members of their party rather than brawling in the streets. There are also major changes coming across the board, as the new main protagonist will be Ichiban Kasuga, who will explore Yokohama rather than Kamurocho, where the series previously took place. While the trailer doesn't show off any combat just yet, it does shed light on a number of new details:

With a change in main character and an entirely new narrative around him, there's probably never been a better time for Sega to explore new options for the Yakuza series. If Yakuza 7's JRPG battles catch on, then the series will likely be better off for it - Yakuza, despite begin about underworld dealings and, as a result, violence, has never been a great brawler. It's the extracurricular activities and incredible storytelling that often set the game apart from its contemporaries, and that doesn't seem likely to change with Yakuza 7.

In fact, the Yakuza 7 JRPG turn-based gameplay is probably a natural fit for the series. It already had most of the elements that have propelled games like Persona to the forefront of the genre - why not take a risk, shed the action-based gameplay, and see what happens? With Yakuza 7 playable at Tokyo Game Show this year, fans will have plenty of answers soon.

Next: Yakuza Spin-Off Pulled From Sale In Japan After Drug Scandal

Source: Sega/YouTube