After a surprise Kickstarter announcement during 2015's E3, little was heard of the highly anticipated sequel. You might even be forgiven to have thought it wouldn't even happen, being Kickstarted and all.

But fear not! Shenmue series creator Yu Suzuki updated us on the state of the game in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, which the folks at gematsu have translated and also in an update in their Kickstarter campaign:

"Development is entering the final stage headed towards full-scale production. Early in the new year, I think we’ll be able to show you things such as new videos.

“We will continue progressing with development so that our backers and those who experience the world of Shenmue for the first time can do so with pleasure.

“Also, at noon on December 15, we will start pre-order sales for the PC version of Shenmue III, which received a lot of requests.

Those interested in Shenmue III, please check the official website."

The Kickstarter campaign even accompanied the update with new work-in-progress visuals:

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So there you have it! Shenmue 3 is alive and well, and apparently coming next December!

SOURCE

 

[Deleted User]

I T S A B O U T T I M E

 

[Deleted User]

does sega endorse this?

 

[KingVamp]

First time I heard of a PC version.

 

[Prans]

First time I heard of a PC version.

It's coming for PC and PS4

 

[KingVamp]

It's coming for PC and PS4

I knew about the PS4 version, but I just learned there was a PC version too from this thread.

 

[Chary]

does sega endorse this?

They're not involved in the project besides giving out the license to use.

 

[Foxi4]

Pre-orders? Before the game goes Gold? What happened to the Kickstarter money that was supposed to fund the project? You cashed your checks and now you're going pan-handling for more money? That's a bad sign, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[KingVamp]

Pre-orders? Before the game goes Gold? What happened to the Kickstarter money that was supposed to fund the project? You cashed your checks and now you're going pan-handling for more money? That's a bad sign, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm pretty sure the preorders are for the people who haven't Kickstarted it.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

So was i the only one thinking there should have been a crossover with yakuza and this game? Oh well, least YU SAZUKI the legend of game goods shall grace us again with what is expected to be godlike.... then maybe make space harrier 3, outrun 3, and hang on 3

Seriously, get this guy back on sega side and make those long overdue sequals so i can stop playing ports on my 3DS

Least make a shenmue hd collection for ps4 or something, i never played the second one and not sure how i would easily be able to with no dreamcast access.

 

[tech3475]

Pre-orders? Before the game goes Gold? What happened to the Kickstarter money that was supposed to fund the project? You cashed your checks and now you're going pan-handling for more money? That's a bad sign, ladies and gentlemen.

So just like most AAA games these days.

These days crowdfunding is also often used to gauge interest in a product to also get other investors to invest.

I would be surprised if a game like shenmue could be made with the kickstarter cash alone, at least not without compromise.

The pre orders will probably end up being another way to get cash and/or get more investors.

 

[tbb043]

So just like most AAA games these days.

Do AAA games even go gold anymore? I thought they just pick a date and shove whatever they have ready out and then send out patches bigger than the entire PSX library to fix their mess.

 

[tech3475]

Do AAA games even go gold anymore? I thought they just pick a date and shove whatever they have ready out and then send out patches bigger than the entire PSX library to fix their mess.

They do go gold, its just that they dont send the build they should be sending.

Going gold just means the version sent to be pressed/released.

 

[Foxi4]

So just like most AAA games these days.

These days crowdfunding is also often used to gauge interest in a product to also get other investors to invest.

I would be surprised if a game like shenmue could be made with the kickstarter cash alone, at least not without compromise.

The pre orders will probably end up being another way to get cash and/or get more investors.

I know what crowdfunding is supposed to do - at this point, it's the investors who should fund the project, not the future customers. I'm sick and tired of pre-orders, AAA or not, and I strongly discourage anyone from participating in this long-running scam of taking people's money for a product that doesn't exist yet. If the game's not ready yet, or isn't at least in the final stages of development, all you're doing by pre-ordering it is removing any form of incentive for the developers to create a quality product. They already have your money, regardless of whether the product ends up being great or terrible, so why would they even try to make it good? They should have faith in their product rather than try to catch you with a gotcha.

 

[leon315]

The first Shenmue ain't developed by Sega

 

[J-Machine]

I know what crowdfunding is supposed to do - at this point, it's the investors who should fund the project, not the future customers. I'm sick and tired of pre-orders, AAA or not, and I strongly discourage anyone from participating in this long-running scam of taking people's money for a product that doesn't exist yet. If the game's not ready yet, or at least in the final stages of development, all you're doing by pre-ordering it is removing any form of incentive for the developers to create a quality product. They already have your money, regardless of whether the product ends up being great or terrible, so why would they even try to make it good? They should have faith in their product rather than catch you with a gotcha.

It's this or the game doesn't get made. seeing as it's the conclusion of a long anticipated game series from over 10 years ago I'd say it's fine to allow this special case. I'd never pre-order a madden or assassins creed because I know this will come out regardless and the outcome you anticipate in your post will ring true on those projects but even if shenmue 3 is a hot peice of garbage it's still closure for a very dedicated fanbase that won't let go.

 

[TVL]

I know what crowdfunding is supposed to do - at this point, it's the investors who should fund the project, not the future customers. I'm sick and tired of pre-orders, AAA or not, and I strongly discourage anyone from participating in this long-running scam of taking people's money for a product that doesn't exist yet. If the game's not ready yet, or at least in the final stages of development, all you're doing by pre-ordering it is removing any form of incentive for the developers to create a quality product. They already have your money, regardless of whether the product ends up being great or terrible, so why would they even try to make it good? They should have faith in their product rather than catch you with a gotcha.

No incentive? What happens if the game turns out terrible? No risk of getting shunned by fans and the entire industry? Nobody is forced to pre-order.

 

[Foxi4]

It's this or the game doesn't get made. seeing as it's the conclusion of a long anticipated game series from over 10 years ago I'd say it's fine to allow this special case. I'd never pre-order a madden or assassins creed because I know this will come out regardless and the outcome you anticipate in your post will ring true on those projects but even if shenmue 3 is a hot peice of garbage it's still closure for a very dedicated fanbase that won't let go.

If the game's going to be garbage, I'd rather get nothing. It only takes one Duke Nukem Forever to completely devalue the IP to such an extent that any hope of future installments is dead and buried. I can understand where you're coming from, but I don't make exceptions from my pre-order rule unless I'm a 100% sure the game will be amazing, and even then I feel like a sucker. Don't have enough money to finish your project? Take out a loan. That way the developers have incentive to work, there's something at stake. Right now it's not the devs taking a risk, it's you, and that's no way to do business.

No incentive? What happens if the game turns out terrible? No risk of getting shunned by fans and the entire industry? Nobody is forced to pre-order.

Who cares about getting shunned by the industry? Shlock games are released all the time, nobody bats an eye. Shenmue was a dead franchise anyways, there's nothing to lose here besides *your* money. You're right, nobody's forced to pre-order, but everybody does because the industry convinced people that it's the only way to get the game on Day 1 and get "goodies" that end up getting released as DLC later anyways. There has never been a video game shortage, especially now, in the age of digital distribution. Pre-ordering a product that's infinite in supply is pointless and only serves to scam customers ahead of schedule.

 

[flame1234]

I'm sick and tired of pre-orders

The hot new thing is DLC season passes but I don't know enough about it to comment further. I do know Microsoft Store, PSN and Steam all support season passes.
Assuming the developer completes their programmed content (read: content the developer promises to deliver when you buy a season pass), is buying the season pass cheaper than buying the programmed content separately once it's out?
Do developers give refunds if they fail to complete their programmed content?

 

[Foxi4]

The hot new thing is DLC season passes but I don't know enough about it to comment further. I do know Microsoft Store, PSN and Steam all support season passes.
Assuming the developer completes their programmed content (read: content the developer promises to deliver when you buy a season pass), is buying the season pass cheaper than buying the programmed content separately once it's out?
Do developers give refunds if they fail to complete their programmed content?

Oh, I just buy GOTY editions, that way I get all the DLC without any of the hassle.If the game's any good, it will be re-released anyways. As for not delivering on a Season Pass, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen - devs are contractually-obligated to release the content as advertised. I can't remember a single instance of a pass not being fulfilled, but should it happen in the future then yes, a refund would be the reasonable solution.