Posted by Ross Way of the Samurai 4 gets release date!

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m delighted to say that the Japanese action game and prestigious ‘Famitsu Gold Award’ winner, Way of the Samurai 4, will be released on Steam on the 23rd July priced at just $24.99.

In addition to this exciting news, I can let you know that there will be a massive 40% Steam Pre-Purchase discount available from the 16th July until the game’s release on the 23rd.

We’d like to thank you all for your continued patience while we worked on this difficult PC conversion but the wait is nearly over. Once again, I’d also like to extend our huge thanks to all the Beta testers that kept focus during the last few months and have helped us get this game over the last few hurdles. You know who you are - THANK YOU! :)

Developed and published in Japan by Acquire and Spike Chunsoft, Way of the Samurai 4 is part of the million+ selling Way of the Samurai series. The series has seen sequels (and even a prequel) released on numerous consoles, including PSP, PS3 and Xbox 360, but this will mark the first time the series has ever been released on PC.

While Way of the Samurai 4 is not yet available for pre-order you can already check out the game’s Steam Store page and discuss the game with Steam Community.

The Way of the Samurai series is widely renowned for allowing players to make far-reaching decisions that can radically alter the course of the story and this, the fourth entry in this thrilling series and previously exclusive to the PS3, is no exception! Now all the sword-wielding action, adventure and drama of the Way of the Samurai series comes to PC for the very first time, continuing the series’ blend of customization, exploration, action gameplay and quirky humour.

Way of the Samurai 4 takes place in the humble port town of Amihama during the mid 19th Century, several years after the arrival of the “black ships” from the West ended Japan’s long history of cultural isolation. Amihama’s downtown area has slowly been converted to a “Little Britain,” complete with European-styled buildings, occupied by an influx of adventurous foreign settlers. Not everyone welcomes these new residents though, and three distinct factions with opposing ideals begin to take shape.

You must take on the role of a master-less samurai looking to establish yourself in this conflicted land of opportunity and uncertainty. It is up to you to decide which faction to support in an almighty conflict amongst the region’s three powers, and so direct the course of Japan’s history.

Will you aid the shogunate pro-government in their attempts to keep the peace and establish cordial relations with the foreign contingent?

Will you help the nationalistic isolationists in their attempts to exile this potential threat to the Japanese way of life?

Or will you ally with the foreigners directed by the British Navy in their attempts to establish silk trade and foster cultural exchange?

Who will you support? Who will you betray? Become the ultimate bastion of virtue or the ultimate disgrace to humanity, and do it however you'd like. The choice is entirely your own...

Come join the denizens of this conflicted harbour and enjoy all the series staples you've come to expect from Way of the Samurai:

• Branching storylines with multiple endings

• Dynamic combat system

• Vast array of melee and gunpowder weaponry

• Extensive character customization

• Key event decision making

• Sword collecting

• Original Japanese voiceover with English subtitles

What the reviewers had to say about the PS3 version

“Ridiculously over-the-top Japanese historical setting combined with samurai badassery and an open-world, Choose Your Own Adventure–style interface.” - EGM

“I can recommend this game to anyone who is a diehard fan of samurais and enjoys a good combat system wrapped around a unique way of telling a story.” - Darkstation

“...a unique, rewarding experience that to date, can't be found anywhere else.” – Destructoid

©Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd. Developed by ACQUIRE Corp. All Rights Reserved. Licensed to and published by Ghostlight Limited.