Whether or not we’ll see a Shenmue 4 at any point in the not-too-distant future (or ever) is anyone’s guess, but it does seem like Shenmue 3, at the very least, has some life left in it yet. The long-awaited title launched in 2019 for PS4 and PC after it had looked increasingly unlikely for years that it would ever happen, only for it to fail to commercially perform at a level that would warrant a quick turnaround for another sequel.
Recently, however, on the occasion of Shenmue 3’s fifth anniversary, it was revealed that publishing rights for the game had passed from Deep Silver to ININ, and ININ seems to be teasing upcoming announcements related to the game.
“This exciting transfer coincides with two momentous milestones: the 25th anniversary of the Shenmue series and the fifth anniversary of Shenmue 3. We have exciting plans to celebrate these anniversaries, ensuring that this beloved series continues to thrive and inspire. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements as we unveil our vision for the next phase of Shenmue’s legacy,” the publisher wrote in a recent press release (via Push Square).
ININ’s Dennis K. Mendel also wrote on LinkedIn, “Let’s make sure that this beloved series continues to thrive and will continue to inspire future generations.”
Given that ININ has only acquired the publishing rights for Shenmue 3 and not the rights for the entire IP, which means any announcement will likely be tied to the 2019 game itself. The likeliest scenario would be the game being announced for Xbox or Nintendo Switch. Either way, it sounds like more will be shared soon, so stay tuned for more updates.