Yakuza: Dead Souls European Trademark Found, Yakuza: Of The End Coming to the West?

Many have called it the GTA of the East, the great alternative to Rockstar's exception free-roaming series that has just the right amount of Japanese drama, comedy, action and authenticity one could want.  Yakuza 4 was the first in the series that saw a true uncut experience come across the Pacific after the much maligned remove of various cultural aspects and locations that plauged the reputation of Yakuza 3.  The series has seen several spinoff titles as well with one being set in Edo era Japan while another was a fighting game similar to the Def Jam titles.  Yakuza: Of The End though was the most drastically different of the three spin-offs simply for its inclusion of a common video game enemy: the undead.

Now before you press the back button and move on with your day take note that this isn't your normal zombie game.  Watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pze9Js7pzGM

Of The End was announced last year and for all intents and purposes it didn't have a chance at coming to our shores until TGS a couple weeks back when SEGA reps hinted that the zombie title may go beyond the Japanese shores.  Low and behold a trademark for Yakuza: Dead Souls was discovered today, a subtitle that both reflects the nature of the undead menace present in Of The End as well as being more resounding than its confusing Japanese original.  Though the game has yet to be officially announced for markets outside the land of the rising sun it probably isn't too far off and an early 2012 release date probably isn't out of the question.  Either way, you can expect Brad to do a spit-take as soon as he reads this.