Shenmue 3 is one of those legendary games that fans have been waiting years to arrive, alongside The Last Guardian and a Final Fantasy VII. During E3 2015, all three games appeared at Sony's press conference, with Shenmue 3 undergoing a Kickstarter to secure funding. On July 19 2015, it was fully funded, and broke Kickstarter records in the process.
The sequel is still some way off, targeting a late 2017 release date, but there is plenty of information out there regarding new features, settings, returning characters and much more. Here's everything we know so far.
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What is Shenmue 3?
Shenmue 3 is the sequel to a Sega Dreamcast and Xbox series that first debuted in 1999. The sequel was funded through Kickstarter 14 years after the last game, breaking records to become the highest funded game to ever be crowdfunded.
The game will continue the story of the Shenmue series, which sees Ryu avenge his father's murder by hands of the mysterious Lan Di. After travelling through 1980s Yokosuka and Hong Kong, Ryu encounters Shenhua, a new travelling companion that will guide him through China.
The series is the brainchild of Yu Suzuki, creator of Hang-On, Out Runand Virtua Fighter, and was left unfinished several chapters into a longer, larger story, which is set to continue in Shenmue 3.
Shenmue 3 will be created for modern platforms PS4 and PC, and is built-in Unreal Engine 4.
Shenmue 3 is being developed by Ys Net, with production and marketing support by Shibuya Productions and publishing assistance by Sony. SEGA is not involved in the game's development, but has given Ys Net the rights for the game's licence.
What's new in Shenmue 3?
While all features coming to the sequel have yet to be determined, it will have "familiar elements" from previous games - including the return of part-time jobs, based on what you might expect within its Chinese setting - and is designed to draw in newcomers and reward returning fans.
There will be new fight mechanics that are teased to "achieve a new level of interactive storytelling". The game will now feature Interactive Scrolls, which are won from mini-games, betting games and shops, which then allows the player to use a battle skill right away in battle without practicing first, "making it all the more exciting to get hold of one", says Suzuki.
Another new feature is the Rapport System, which will see character actions change based on your conversations and interactions, according to Suzuki.
Meanwhile, the game is said to have a "less stressful user interface" with more usability.
What is Shenmue, anyway?
The original Shenmue games were ground-breaking for their approach to open-world exploration, realism with offering day-night cycle, jobs and mini-games based on real-world activities, free battles that were inspired by the Virtua Fighter games, and is often cited as the first game to employ Quick Time Events.
It was said to be the most expensive game at the time, often cited with a modern day budget and marketing spend of $47-70 million.
Though SEGA own the rights to the first two games, Suzuki is in talks for HD versions of the series.
And what does Shenmue mean, exactly? It was revealed at the end of the second game (possible spoilers ahead) that it is a type of made-up blossom tree that grows in Shenhua's village, though its significance to the story and the series as a whole has yet to be revealed.
The setting and locations of Shenmue 3
As Ryu journeys through China, there are three new areas in Shenmue 3 - Baisha, Chobu and Bailu Village.
Bailu Village is where Shenhua's house is at the end of Shenmue 2, and is assumed to be the starting area of the game. It's where Shenhua was raised and where Ryo's father Iwao visited when he was younger. "Here as well the quests will play an important role as Ryo and Shenhua start their journey," said Suzuki.
Choubu is a riverside village on the Li river, filled with souvenir shops, hotels, shrines and village dwellings.
Meanwhile, Baisha is teased to include siege and infiltration inspired by the Warring Kingdoms period of Chinese history.
All three areas would have appeared in the game regardless of Kickstarter goals, but all will be improved based on their backing level.
Kickstarter funding, rewards and backer-exclusive in-game items
The game's Kickstarter featured a number of awards, including trial access and in-game items. For $29 a digital copy was provided, a physical copy for $60, an international phone card in-game item that unlocks exclusive flashback scenes and conversations with characters from the first game for $80, access to the trial version of the game for $100 on PC, and from $160, a backer-only Advanced Technique Scroll item as well as casual toy tickets. A $250 collector's edition also includes a skin-change feature for Ryo's jacket.
At higher tiers, players could have messages appear inside the game, including a custom message that will appear in a guest book within the game for others to see, appearing in-game as a block or chibi figure for a capsule toy, a backer's name appear on a Choubu temple in Chinese letters - and if they find it in the game, they'll receive a special Technique Scroll; a backer's name and birthdate will be written on a traditional wishing plaque that's displayed at a Bailu Village temple; appear in the game on a picture at the harbour waiting area for a Choubu passenger boat or on a board of Lucky Hit; and have likeness appear as a Chi You Men member for Ryo to fight against.
Non-game rewards included real toy capsules, physical and MP3 soundtracks, a digital art book, T-shirt, an art book curated by Yu Suzuki, signed illustration, a message from voice actor Corey Marshall, vintage goodies designed around the original game (including a wrist watch), a replica of Ryo's leather jacket, and the original jacket worn by Japanese Ryo Hazuki voice actor Masahiro Yoshimoto from the original Shenmue press events. It's also possible to have a special voice message from Yu Suzuki, or be joined by a friend to have a dinner party with Suzuki and other backers in Japan, Monaco or Los Angeles - if you can afford $10,000, that is.
Is Shenmue 3 entirely funded through Kickstarter?
While the game has raised millions on Kickstarter, additional funds already secured elsewhere will contribute to the game's development. "Wanting to make the best game possible, I also knew that I would have to look to more traditional means to obtain all the funds that would be needed to create the game I had envisioned," said Suzuki on the game's Kickstarter page.
Aside from Kickstarter fees and funds for spending on backer rewards, all cash raised through crowd-funding is going to the game's development.
Developer Ys Net is using the assistance of Shibuya Productions for production and marketing, while Sony is helping with publishing support. No funds raised through Kickstarter are going towards either company.
Without Kickstarter, the game wouldn't have been made, and is being made with the support of fans at the beginning, according to Suzuki, who wrote on the Kickstarter page: "I know that the goal of making Shenmue 3 with the fans, and seeing Shenmue in the hands of gamers all around the world is a lofty one. We are balancing our ambitions for a grand sequel with the pragmatic realities of developing a game of this scale. It will not be easy, but I have dreamed of making this sequel for 14 years – it is time to bring Shenmue back! And to make it come true, it will need the love and support from each and every one of you!"
Who is working on Shenmue 3?
Shenmue postmortem: 10 revelations from Yu Suzuki's talk
Shenmue's creator Yu Suzuki will be back at the helm, serving as the game's director and producer.
Other staff are also returning developers from the previous games. Series lead programmer Tak Hirai is now creative director; Masahiro Yoshimoto is once again writing the script; Kenji Miyawaki is back as main character design artist; composer Ryuji Iuchi returns, alongside architect Manabu Takimoto.
The original voice actors for Ryo in Japanese and English - Masaya Matsukaze and Corey Marshall - are both returning for Shenmue 3.
When is Shenmue 3's release date?
The game is currently targeting a release date of late 2017 for PC and PS4. No other platforms, including Xbox One, have yet to be announced.
Though the game has a target date, as is common with many Kickstarter projects, it's one that's subject to change. "We will do our absolute best to deliver Shenmue 3 and the rewards by their respective deadlines," read the page. "However, there is always the possibility that problems may arise which could affect reward delivery. There may end up being changes in game or reward designs. We may press right when we are supposed to press left and get hilariously head butted and kneed in the groin."
Will there be a Shenmue 4?
When asked about another Shenmue game, Suzuki replied: "If the fans are not happy with 3 there will not be a 4. So I please hope we can together make this game the best it can be."
The first few Shenmue games are part of a much larger story. Suzuki explained that 11 chapters make the entire saga, with plans for 4-5 games in total. "If at all possible, I would still like to realize the full story of 11 chapters," he said.
Shenmue 3 in trailers
Contributions by Matthew Reynolds
