Fans are showing their dedication to the Shenmue franchise by purchasing a 15-second ad in the heart of New York’s Times Square, urging for the development of Shenmue 4. Despite the uncertainty surrounding a sequel after the mixed reviews and sales of Shenmue 3, Shenmue Dojo is leading the charge in this campaign.
Shenmue Dojo’s campaign is focused on rallying support for the continuation of the series and attracting a potential partner for Ys Net to develop Shenmue 4. Among the potential partners being considered is Sega, who was directly tagged in a follow-up Tweet featuring a live stream of the Times Square ad.
Yu Suzuki, the mastermind behind Shenmue, expressed his unwavering commitment to completing the saga during the credits of Shenmue 3. However, he later revealed that the fate of Shenmue 4 hinged on the sales of its predecessor and finding a suitable publishing partner. While Shenmue Dojo can’t influence the sales figures, they are actively working towards securing a partner for the next installment.
The campaign gained momentum, causing #shenmue to trend on Twitter briefly. The message from Shenmue Dojo at the end of the campaign resonated with supporters: “Thank you to everyone who contributed to the mass show of support today. Your efforts are highly appreciated and demonstrate that together, we can advocate for the realization of Shenmue 4. #LetsGetShenmue4”
If Shenmue 4 does come to fruition, it aims to be more welcoming to new players. Suzuki emphasized the importance of making the game enjoyable for those unfamiliar with the series, stating that familiarity with only a portion of the story should be sufficient. He also expressed his desire to seamlessly integrate a summary of previous events into the main game for a smoother experience.