Shenmue 4: is the game really in development? Yu Suzuki’s response

In recent weeks, a big rumor about a possible Shenmue 4 spread across the web like wildfire. Shenmue 3 having been a technical disappointment, many fans want Yû Suzuki to embark on the development of a new episode, this time much more successful. Unfortunately, they will have to take their troubles patiently, because as reported by our colleagues from Famitsuthe creator of the series made it clear that for the moment, nothing concrete had yet been initiated.

While he’s aware that Shenmue 3 would probably never have seen the light of day without the unwavering support of the community, Suzuki-san also knows that fan service can prevent laymen from immersing themselves in the universe of the series. This is also one of the points he would like to improve if Shenmue 4 were to see the light of day, Shenmue 3 having been developed above all for purists. His recent remarks echo what the guy said in April 2020 during an interview with IGN Japan.

Indeed, he had already listed some elements to reach a wider audience. “Adding quest markers, optimizing fast travel and accelerated time features, lightening the interface… I would like to deliver a smoother experience for those who want to progress quickly in the story. If the game had the same content as Shenmue 3, then you could finish it 1.5 times faster“, he had explained. For the record, Shenmue 3 was released on November 19, 2019 on PC and PS4.