On the morning of December 4th, a user named Nomura_79 uploaded a zip file to the Shenmue Dojo forums. Its content would go on to shock the community and send ripples through the wider gaming landscape.
The file contained a trailer that is supposed to be for Shenmue 4which Nomura claimed would be revealed at this year's Game Awards ceremony. Despite several red flags hinting at AI involvement, many fans believed this trailer could be the real deal. Not only did it do an exceptional job of emulating past style Shenmue game, but it also showcased story beats and locations expected to appear in future installments. Some fans were understandably skeptical, but few were willing to completely dismiss the trailer as a hoax.
Shenmue 3 is making a comeback on new platforms
Fans of the influential Shenmue series can now look forward to playing 2019's Shenmue 3 on new platforms for the first time.
Within hours, news of the trailer had been picked up by a number of major gaming publications, including PC Gamer, Push Square, and Eurogamer. Threads began popping up on subreddits and gaming forums, and thousands of curious players began flocking to the Shenmue Dojo forums in search of answers. According to one of the site's co-owners, 330,000 people visited the dojo in the 12-hour period following Nomura's post, with more than a million unique visits and page after page of discussion following over the next few days.
For a series that former Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors once described as “a core niche product,” this kind of response might seem a bit over the top, especially given the uncertain origins of the trailer. But there's a reason so many fans were willing to look past some of the aforementioned red flags. After years of silence and uncertainty, this trailer promised something that Shenmue fans have been desperately craving for more than two decades now: closure.
A brief history of Shenmue
To really understand why this trailer was such a big deal for Shenmue community, you first need to know a little about the history of the franchise. Released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast, the first Shenmue the game helped pioneer a number of systems and mechanics that would go on to become standard in many modern video games, while laying much of the groundwork for what would eventually become known as the open-world genre. It inspired players and developers alike; a legacy confirmed by a recent BAFTA poll naming it the most influential video game of all time.
Unfortunately, Shenmue proved to be as divisive as it was groundbreaking, with many players struggling to get to grips with the slow pace of the story. All that innovation also came at a huge cost. According to series creator Yu Suzuki, about $47 million was spent on development and marketing Shenmue and its 2001 sequel, which, combined with the Dreamcast's modest install base and extensive piracy problems, left the series with no realistic path to profitability.
10 interesting facts about Shenmue's development
Many changes were made throughout the development period and many interesting and quirky elements found their way into the series.
In the end, one in eight Dreamcast owners bought a copy Shenmue: a higher connection speed than any of the 3D GTA games achieved on PS2. Even then this was not enough for SEGA. Work on the third Shenmue the game was halted and fans endured more than a decade of uncertainty. There were occasional whispers, but it wasn't until 2015 and a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that they finally got something concrete. Against all odds, Shenmue made a comeback.
Unfortunately, the return of the franchise was nowhere near as triumphant as fans had hoped. Review points for Shenmue 3 were mixed, and although official sales figures were never released, the game's failure to chart in several key areas seems to indicate that it struggled to perform commercially. Perhaps most disappointing of all, however, was that very little narrative progress was made, with many lingering questions left unanswered. After eighteen years and what many saw as a minor miracle, fans were back where they started.
In the six years following the release of Shenmue 3Yu Suzuki has continued to reiterate his desire to finish the story in video game form, and has reportedly pitched a fourth game to potential publishers. Despite a few tidbits, however, no one seems to have taken the bait yet, or at least not last May when Suzuki confirmed that Shenmue 4 was not yet in active development. Things could have changed since then, but there is no real evidence to suggest that this is the case.
A fandom reunited
That's why, when Nomura_79's zip file appeared on a random December morning, the reaction was so explosive. After decades of waiting, an unlikely Kickstarter revival, and a sequel that left more questions than answers, fans were desperate for any hint of progress. This mysterious trailer served as a spark. A chance to dive back into the world of Shenmueto speculate on Ryo's next move, and to believe in the possibility of being shut down once more. It offered hope at a time when everything began to feel lost.
Reading through some of the many comments and forum posts, you can find many examples of fans who had previously given up on the franchise, but are now once again excited about what the future may hold. Some were excited about the opportunity to visit new places like Luoyang and Inner Mongolia, while others were just happy to see Ryo's companion Ren up to some of his old tricks. While far from perfect, the trailer reminded fans of everything they love Shenmue and why they are so desperate to finally experience the end of Ryo's story.
This video has absolutely no connection with YS NET. Also, YS NET has not released any trailers, movies or other promotional materials related to “Shenmue 4” at this time. – Ys Net
After days of speculation, Ys Net eventually released a statement denying any involvement in the trailer, but the response it elicited is impossible to ignore. Coverage across major venues and over a million unique forum visits underscores the continuing appetite for more Shenmue and highlights some of the aspects that still resonate strongly with series fans. If a fake trailer can generate that level of attention and engagement, you can't help but wonder what a real one can do. The question now is whether Yu Suzuki can find a publishing partner willing to capitalize on all this untapped potential. For what it's worth, I really hope he can.
Shenmue
- Released
-
December 29, 1999
- ESRB
-
t
