TheShenmueseries has received a surprise resurgence in relevance recently with the release ofShenmue: The Animation, an anime project developed in collaboration between Sega, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, and YS Net. The anime, which started production duringShenmue 3’s development, just recently finished airing and has been met with positive reception from both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. Recently, rumors have begun to circulate implying thatShenmue 4could be announced shortly after the anime’s airing, however, series creator Yu Suzuki has claimed in an interview that there are “no concrete plans” for a fourth title.
Shenmuemade its debut on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 and isoften credited with being the first ever open-world game, offering fully recreated renditions of Japanese towns with an unparalleled level of detail for a game of its time. It was followed in 2001 withShenmue 2, which took Ryo Hazuki to Hong Kong in his quest to avenge his father’s death. The series was seemingly canceled at this point, with Sega uninterested in spending the millions required to produce a third entry, which quickly became one of the most requested video game sequels of all time.
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In 2015, creatorYu Suzuki launched a Kickstarter campaign forShenmue 3with his studio YS Net and the game managed to raise over $6.3 million in crowdfunding, remaining as the most successful video game Kickstarter to date. The game released in 2019 to mixed critical reception, but publisher Deep Silver was satisfied with the game’s sales.
Recently,Wanted: Deadpublisher 110 Industries began teasing its involvement in a possibleShenmue 4. The publisher began by sharing cryptic messages implying that the reason Yu Suzuki had been part of its Tokyo Game Show presentation was due to its involvement inShenmue 4, and further drew fans' speculation by sharing vague teases that related to theShenmueseries. Yu Suzuki now seems to have cleared the air surrounding this speculation however, as in a new interview withFamitsutheShenmue 3director claims that there are no concrete plans forShenmue 4.
He elaborates by claiming that if the game does get made, he wants it to be more “accessible” to newcomers, ashe createdShenmue 3mainly to appeal to fansconsidering the game was funded through Kickstarter. Suzuki believes that this made newcomers feel like they had been “left behind,” and believes that creatingShenmue 4to be a more accessible entry point would help improve sales overShenmue 3.
It appears that, at least for now,Shenmue 4is still a long ways off. Many fans are of thebelief that aShenmue 4would not take as long asShenmue 3to developgiven YS Net’s newfound understanding of Unreal Engine 4 development and the ability to reuse assets fromShenmue 3streamlining the development cycle. Despite this, it appears thatShenmue 4has not yet found a home.
