Summary
Shenmuefans are showing their desire for a new game in the series in a bold way. Fans are desperate to see protagonist Ryo Hazuki’s story continue in a newShenmuegame.
Created, produced, and directed by Yu Suzuki,Shenmueis an action-adventure game, first released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast.Shenmue 2followed in 2001 on the Dreamcast, with a port for the original Xbox. After entering development purgatory for several years,Shenmue 3was released in 2019for PlayStation 4 and PC thanks to a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, which became the fastest- and highest-funded video game project in Kickstarter history.Shenmue 3reached its initial $2 million goal in about nine hours and the campaign garnered a total of $6.3 million.
Via IGN, the fan website Shenmue Dojo launched a campaign on June 4 to show support forShenmue 4with a billboard in New York City’s Times Square. Shenmue Dojo intends to spread awareness for a fourth installment with the hashtag #LetsGetShenmue4. In addition, Shenmue Dojo used the billboard “to support the continuation of the series and attempt to spread global awareness to find Ys Net a potential partner forShenmue 4.” Ys Net is Suzuki’s independent development studio.
Shenmue Fans Campaign for Fourth Installment in the Series
Shenmue Dojo thanked its fellowShenmuefans with a message on its site: “Thank you to everyone that helped to show their support with the timed mass tweets/posts today. It was very much appreciated and proves that together, as a collective, we can spread the awareness that we are not going to sit back without a fight. We will continue to strive untilShenmue 4is a reality."
In an interview with IGN last year,Shenmuecreator Yu Suzukisaid he is currently working onShenmue 4and that the only thing needed to make it is a partner. He also intends to make the game more accessible to new players who don’t know the history of the previous games. Suzuki said he has ideas for a prequel game calledShenmue Zero, focusing on a young Ryo.
Shenmuewas the most expensive video game ever developedin 1999, with production and marketing costs ranging from $47 million to $70 million. Therefore,Shenmue 4might have a difficult time finding a partner, with costs likely to be even higher now. Yet, given their willingness to buy a billboard for their favorite video game and donate millions of dollars to get a previous game made, Suzuki might want to look toShenmuefans forShenmue 4.
Shenmue
A tale of revenge.In 1986, teenage jujitsu artist Ryo Hazuki returns to the dojo of his father, Iwao Hazuki, only to witness his murder by a Chinese man, Lan Di. Lan Di steals a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Mirror. Ryo vows to avenge his father’s death and sets out tracing Lan Di’s path.The first game in the series, Shenmue begins the tale as Ryo travels around Yokosuka, Japan, gathering clues about his father’s murder and dealing with nefarious gangsters along the way
