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Publisher ININ Games and developer YS NET have announced Shenmue III Enhanced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, "Nintendo," and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). A release date was not announced. Users who own the original Shenmue III for PlayStation 4 or PC will be offered an upgrade path.

Here is an overview of the game, via ININ Games:

About

Shenmue III Enhanced is the upgraded edition of the acclaimed adventure that stays true to its roots while adding modern improvements. Featuring overhauled visuals, performance boosts, and quality-of-life updates, Shenmue III Enhanced is the ultimate way to experience Ryo's story.

Key Features

• Enhanced Graphics and Performance – Sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay.
• 4K Texture Uplift – Refined, more detailed environments and characters.
• DLSS/FSR Support – High-quality upscaling without sacrificing performance (supported platforms only).
• Increased NPC Density – The city village Niaowu feels more alive with more characters populating the streets.
• Classic Camera Mode – An optional camera perspective inspired by Shenmue and Shenmue II, alongside the modern view.
• Gameplay Tweaks – Optional stamina system adjustments, health restoration before fights, and reduced money barriers for smoother progression.
• Improved Interactions – Cutscene and conversation skip options, expanded quick-time event timing window for more accessible gameplay.
• Menu and User Experience Enhancements – Streamlined navigation and helpful purchase alerts.
• Optionality First – All major changes can be toggled to preserve the original experience for purists.

 

[RedC]

I need to see how these enhancements improve the game overall.

 

[Punished Miku]

Finally hitting Xbox. I'll definitely pick it up eventually.

 

[amigastar]

I loved Shenmue 1 and 2 never played 3, though.

 

[DreamcastSkies]

So the series isn't dead. Not a Shenmue guy (but I'd like to be), but I'm familiar with the love for this series and hope it continues.

 

[adamsapple]

Does it add a real ending?

 

[Gambit2483]

Any chance they bring Shenmue 1&2 to Switch 2? I'd honestly rather have that than this.

 

[saintjules]

So the series isn't dead. Not a Shenmue guy (but I'd like to be), but I'm familiar with the love for this series and hope it continues.

I hope so too. I played the first two when they came out. The 3rd only for a few hours. I was around the stage of semi-retiring from games early. But I'd definitely like to get back into this.

Id like to say Shenmue paved the way for games like Yakuza.

 

[Darsxx82]

A beauty piece of news.
I'll buy it to complete the collection, hoping the improvements are worth it.

Hopefully, this is a sign of plans for Shenmue 4 at some point.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Wasn't Shenmue IV meant to be in the hands of the Wanted: Dead publishers?

 

[kunonabi]

Reduced grind and better visuals. Not exactly what the game needed but better than nothing I guess.

 

[Deft Beck]

Any discount for people who either backed the original KS or bought it on Steam?

 

[Leopold]

Oh finally I'll play it

 

[sloppyjoe_gamer]

I started Shenmue 1 from the 1 & 2 collection that came out on PS4 years back but i never finished it.....got pulled into other games. I dont remember much of anything about it other than Sailors lol

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Still plan to get to these games some day. Seems some people are really passionate about them.

 

[lh032]

that 5 shenmue boomer fanboy must be very excited

 

[Zuzu]

I bought it for the second time recently on playstation so it's nice to see this get released before I play through it

 

[Lokaum D+]

ll they enhance the story ?

 

[Mr Hyde]

Weird that they are enhancing Shenmue 3 without remastering the first two. Maybe they are on the way.

 

[LordCBH]

Will it enhance it into being not crap?

 

[CosmicComet]

Might give it another shot. I wanted to love it but the stamina system was so bad that it forced me to walk everywhere because running drained it so quickly and would leave you weakened for fights.

 

[El Muerto]

I loved 1 and 2. Was super excited to see 3 announced at E3. Still havent gotten around to playing 3 because everyone saying it was awful. Guess i'll replay 1 and 2 then try out this update.

 

[Gonzito]

What a joke of a game this thing was

 

[CosmicComet]

Weird that they are enhancing Shenmue 3 without remastering the first two. Maybe they are on the way.

Sega already remastered those two not long ago.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

No "Still looking for some Sailors" edition?

 

[Lucifers Beard]

Any discount for people who either backed the original KS or bought it on Steam?

Read the OP dude, you get it for free if you own the original.

 

[ScHlAuChi]

Any chance they bring Shenmue 1&2 to Switch 2? I'd honestly rather have that than this.

Switch 2 version is planned

 

[Doom_master1122]

The game definitely needed rebalancing, I'm just not sure how much a rebalance will fix the game over all.
I love Shenmue, the first two games for me are absolutely legendary. I backed the kickstarter for 3 and was relatively lukewarm about it. The game WAS Shenmue, yes. But much of the writing and pacing of the game felt very stunted.

Spoiler: Spoilers for story, ending and events

The game's story felt very weirdly paces. Almost a tonal whiplash on much of the game's progression on where you go, how you get there and information you need TO get there.
Top this with the very sudden and hard stop of an ending the game had, and you end up with a game that felt like one long side quest with not a lot of progress, hardly any answered questions, and the feeling that you are in the same spot as you were when you started the game.
Seeing Ren again was cool, but his overall involvement felt super flat and short lived. Only conveniently there to give long time fans a nostalgic rush. I'm fine with him being there, but to ultimately be very "side lined" until conveniently needed for certain points in the story felt weird.

Having the climactic fight to get to Lan-Di felt like it should have been the middle part of the game, especially when the following cutscene after being him IMMEDIATELY thrusted you in a "WELL YOU DID IT. YOU SAVED THE GUY, AND LANDI GOT AWAY" scene. The game almost literally ends with a "Next time on DragonBall Z! Shenmue!"

While I didn't expect the story to end here, I expected much more than a handful of new plot points and a villain tease in a follow up game that we've been waiting for since the early 2000s.

That said, my frustrations in the spoiler tag still leads me to "enjoying" the game. And I say that loosely with quotes, as I DO enjoy it. The genuinely good parts of the game (Which there are quite a bit of cool parts!) feel like classic Shenmue again in the modern era. It just gets really smeary when the not so good parts shine through.
The broken and clunky combat system, the eating system, the money grinds (not once, but twice!), the excessive grinding to get stronger, etc; really brought down the over all enjoyment. Many of those issues seem to be in the enhanced/remaster they are releasing. Hopefully it helps in the long run with the game. I'll probably play the remaster/enhanced to experience a much less frustrating Shenmue 3 (at least mechanically).

 

[Arsic]

If I was interested in this game can I jump into it with 3 and be fine?

I've tried number one in the past and it controlled like a bag of bricks.

Also, do people who own it get this update free I assume? Edit: an upgrade path. Better than nothing.

 

[Physiognomonics]

From memory the first 2 games on PS4 were worse than on Dreamcast. Still 30fps, same controls and more bugs.

Anyways I loved the first game on Dreamcast (that OST!), but I was quickly bored with the second game. Too much useless grind, still the same atrocious controls etc. I have the 3rd game but never bothered to open the box after reading the reviews.

 

[Gambit2483]

Switch 2 version is planned

Wait what? Switch 2 version of the first 2 games??

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

Come on physical. Inin is usually good with those. I'll gladly ditch my cheap used PS4 copy for an Xbox version just so it can be with the original Xbox version of 2.

 

[saintjules]

Weird that they are enhancing Shenmue 3 without remastering the first two. Maybe they are on the way.

Sega already remastered those two not long ago.

IIRC, ININ only has the rights to 3.

 

[DeVeAn]

Wow, I'll buy one of each please! Love the log chopping mini game especially how the music kicks in once you start doing well.

 

[Dynomite]

No "Still looking for some Sailors" edition?

I was going to make a "sailors" joke. I think that calls out how old we are.

 

[Connificent]

 

[U n i o n 0015]

I loved 1 and 2. Was super excited to see 3 announced at E3. Still havent gotten around to playing 3 because everyone saying it was awful. Guess i'll replay 1 and 2 then try out this update.

Same, I backed it on one of the higher tiers, too. Once I read that it didn't really move the story forward, I lost most of my interest.

Absolutely insane to get the chance to make a third and not even finish the damn story.

 

[Gamezone]

I loved Shenmue 1 and 2 never played 3, though.

Don't do it. It was trash, and Shenmue 1 and 2 are my childhood heros. They even ruined the combat.

 

[PrefectAboro]

Sometimes I wish Yu Suzuki had the same support in the industry and financial backing that Kojima has. Although I'm incredibly grateful for this new "Director's Cut" version. It should of only taken 2 years instead of 6 years. And some news of Shenmue 4 should of been announced by now.

Hopefully SEGA or Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio can collaborate with Suzuki in the future and we can see more sequels/prequels.

 

[Judge Magister]

This series seems dead and the revival made no one enthusiastic about it. No idea why some people think there will be more games.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

I need to see how these enhancements improve the game overall.

That's why they're called enhancements. They don't.

 

[Azelover]

Good to see that Shenmue is still alive in some fashion.

What I really want is more story though. Hopefully in a few years, when we have very advanced AI, we will finally get the end of the story..

 

[Gambit2483]

This series seems dead and the revival made no one enthusiastic about it. No idea why some people think there will be more games.

Technically they never brought it to a Nintendo console/audience. Many times a series reaches a completely new audience when it hits on a Nintendo platform (e.g Persona, Nier, Final Fantasy etc.) . I'd be interested to see how the series (in full) does on Switch.

 

[rubik's dude]

On the one hand, I'm impressed by Yu Suzuki's unwillingness to compromise on his original vision of Shenmue needing six games before it'll be finished. On the other hand, he completely squandered the golden goose egg he was given to ever finish Shenmue by not ending it at 3.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It would be fucking hilarious if they actually charge for a patch for a turd.

 

[Judge Magister]

Technically they never brought it to a Nintendo console/audience. Many times a series reaches a completely new audience when it hits on a Nintendo platform (e.g Persona, Nier, Final Fantasy etc.) . I'd be interested to see how the series (in full) does on Switch.

I'm talking about a possible Shenmue 4 or whatever. After 3's trainwreck i'm not seeing investors interested in wasting money on this series and Yu Suzuki.
Ports or a quick remaster like this is no suprise if released on more platforms since most of the work it's all done.

 

[Pejo]

On the other hand, he completely squandered the golden goose egg he was given to ever finish Shenmue by not ending it at 3.

Not even "didn't finish Shenmue", he really didn't even advance the plot at all in 3. You could remove the story from 3 and pick up wherever he starts 4 and all you would need is a handful of lines of text to catch everyone up. As a Kickstarter backer of Shenmue 3, I consider it my biggest gaming mistake of all time.

 

[keefged4]

Shemue 3 was was a crushing disappointment compared to the first two masterpieces, however I will be buying this (for the 3rd, maybe 4th and 5th time now) to support a potential 4th entry.

 

[Sephimoth]

I didn't play much of it because a lot of the systems were changed/downgraded from the originals, though I can't remember details (fighting I think?).
Didn't you have to keep stamina up just for walking around too? Overall, disappointing.

The 2015 E3 where this and FF7R were announced was YUGE!!!

 

[Stafford]

Loved 1 and 2 on Dreamcast back in the day, in Japanese because holy shit motherfuck the English dubs.

Never played 3 but what I saw in video reviews and some bits of playthroughs it looked rather shit.