Yu Suzuki pledges to try to make Shenmue 4 via in-game letter to fans
Designer says he will “never give up” on ambition to finish the story
Yu Suzuki has pledged to continue making Shenmue games “as long as there are those who wish to see Shenmue live on.”
The commitment is made via an in-game letter to fans shown during Shenmue 3’s staff credits.
In the letter, Suzuki says he will “never give up” on his ambition to complete the overall Shenmue story, which has previously been estimated to be less than 50% complete by the end of the third game. In a 2015 AMA, Suzuki said he would like to complete 11 story chapters across at least five games.
[UPDATE: VGC’s Shenmue 3 review has now been published]
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Suzuki says in the letter: “For as long as there are those who wish to see Shenmue live on, I will never give up on my own personal journey to complete its story. As with Shenmue 3, the Shenmue story is with you.
“I sincerely hope that, together, we can continue to spin the tale of Ryo and his adventures in Shenmue 4.”
The designer told VGC earlier this year that plans for Shenmue 4 will be made easier if sales of the third game are good. However, he added that the future of the series will be more dependent on which partners he can secure.
“If Shenmue 3 sells well it will make things easier [with Shenmue 4],” he said. “But I think it will rely more on what kind of partners we will be able to secure.”
In the same interview, the veteran Sega designer suggested he could be in discussions to return to his classic series Virtua Fighter and Out Run.
Yu Suzuki’s letter to fans
To all the fans who have waited many years for Shenmue 3, and to all of the crowdfunding backers who have made this game possible: This project would not exist without your love, support, and the connections we’ve made along the way. With profound appreciation for all that you have done, I am happy to finally present to you Shenmue 3.
During development I expanded the scope beyond what I had originally envisioned. I’m happy we were able to include the distinct “Shenmue” charm throughout the game. I hope that this new chapter strikes even a small resonance in your heart.
For as long as there are those who wish to see Shenmue live on, I will never give up on my own personal journey to complete its story. As with Shenmue 3, the Shenmue story is with you.
I sincerely hope that, together, we can continue to spin the tale of Ryo and his adventures in Shenmue 4.
This goes out to all who have ever loved and supported Shenmue.
Yu Suzuki
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