Shenmue 3 is the true sequel to the classic open world action RPG games, Shenmue and Shenmue 2. Created for modern platforms (PC and PlayStation 4) and built in Unreal 4, Shenmue 3 will continue the legacy of Shenmue.

With your help, we can #SaveShenmue and rejoin Ryo and our favorite characters on this new adventure!

Against a lengthy list of incredible achievements, the most astounding characteristic of Shenmue is how utterly unknown it is.

More gamers are knowledgeable about Goat Simulator than they are about the game that carved the foundation for such cinematic masterpieces as Mass Effect, Heavy Rain, and The Last of Us. The influence of Yu Suzuki's magnum opus is even evident in such titans like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil, yet its recognition is less than that of QWOP's―a game that, while undeniably masterful, has had little effect on the industry as a whole.

Of the handful of gamers who are still aware of Shenmue's existence, few are familiar with anything more than the jokes about sailors, which is a shame; imagine if the only thing archaeologists knew about the Great Wall of China was that it's some tourist attraction in Asia. (What, it's like the oldest fence or something, right?)

Do you think comparing a video game to one of Earth's greatest man-made achievements is somewhat hyperbolic? Then you've either never played Shenmue, or you played it years after its release, jaded by dozens of phenomenal games that look just like it, ones that megapublishers can now seem to churn out every four months or so.

So, for those of you who are uninitiated, here are some quick comparisons to help you begin to comprehend just how significant of a game Shenmue was:

Hello Everyone!

Just in! Corey Marshall, the actor who did the English voice acting for the main character Ryo in Shenmue 1 & 2, is now confirmed for Shenmue 3!

The support for Mr. Marshall to reprise his role as Ryo has been just overwhelming!

We would all like to thank Corey-san for coming back, and especially for all the support he has given to Shenmue over the years.

Corey is as excited for Shenmue's return as we all are, and to help out, he has magnanimously offered his voice for a special reward. Yes, that's right--get a personal message from Ryo!  Do not miss this opportunity to get a very special message from Ryo himself. Maybe one those classic Ryo one-liners?

Deep Silver and Ys Net are excited to announce their collaboration to publish YsNet’s forthcoming, long awaited game Shenmue III.

The global publishing deal will cover the release exclusively on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PC: both physical and digital versions.

The current release date is scheduled for the second half of 2018.

“Shenmue is one of a few game franchises that have historical value whilst continuing to ignite passion across gamers. We are delighted to have signed this publishing partnership and look forward to utilizing our global publishing network to maximize the potential of this highly anticipated game,” said Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Koch Media/Deep Silver.

Yu Suzuki, the director of Shenmue III and CEO of Ys Net added, “I am very pleased to secure this global partnership with Deep Silver, which is comprised of incredible men and women who have a deep passion for bringing Japanese titles to the rest of the world. Throughout this process, Deep Silver has expressed a deep passion for Japanese games, the Shenmue franchise and its fans—this gives me further confidence in Shenmue III and that we have found the best partner possible.”

“We are very excited for the continuation of Ryo Hazuki’s journey in Shenmue III, and are confident the game will deliver the story and gameplay PlayStation fans have been waiting for,” said Florian Hunziker, Vice President of PlayStation’s Third Party Relations & Developer Technology Group. “The global partnership between Ys Net and Deep Silver will help realize Yu Suzuki’s vision for Shenmue III—we are thrilled to see his spirit of innovation materialize on PS4.”

Epic is funding the cost of all Kickstarter refunds resulting from Shenmue III’s move to the Epic Games store, so that refunds won’t reduce Ys Net’s development funding.

Concerning Refunds

Refunds will be honored for backers who had selected a PC version and are not satisfied with the proposed reward options.

Refund Request Processing

Refund requests will be accepted only through the backer survey during the survey period. Processing details will be announced at the start of the survey period.

Refund processing timing may vary depending on payment service and transaction status. It may take up to 20 business days to 3 months from the time the refund request is made until the refund transaction is completed.

We promise to proceed with refund request processing promptly and reliably, however, due to the fact that the campaign is now 4 years on, along with the complexity of the transactions and payment service system arrangements, we ask for your understanding that processing times may vary depending on individual transaction circumstances.

Refunds and In-game Rewards

The possibility is high that in-game rewards for backers who requested a refund may not be removed from the game. We ask for your understanding that production of in-game rewards has been well underway and that changing implemented content is difficult at this stage of development.