‘Shenmue 3’ release date, news & update: QTE success questionable; Developer promises to keep fans posted

Shenmue' remake: Shenmue 1 and 2 remasters still coming out this year — Two main protagonists in the first game franchise Shenmue Dojo/ shenmuedojo.net

Popular Japanese video game designer Yu Suzuki has finally opened up about “Shenmue 3.” The game is likely to be back in full force despite a lot of upheaval and criticism from experts and fans alike.

The game’s last update came a long time back and since then it has been a frustrating wait. Fans soon became bored and Quick Time Events (QTE) fell out of fashion. They were first pioneered by Suzuki’s “Shenmue.” Now, it seems the interest in the franchise is growing again and that’s good news. A development report video of the game has been uploaded on YouTube. It includes lot of footage for the title and the QTEs.

“It has been a long time since our last update, and we are painfully aware you all have been eagerly awaiting the monthly report ... All of us here have been so wrapped up in the development process that time seems to have flown by,” said Suzuki, reports GamingBolt via Shenmue III website.

Suzuki has not only apologised for the painfully long delay but also promised regular updates from now on. Developer YS Net will keep fans informed without giving away too much of the storyline and gameplay. No release date for the game has been announced yet, though it is expected to be released sometime in December. It will reportedly launch on PC and PlayStation 4. Thus, the main takeaway is that QTE sequences will be back. The video (shared below) also shows a series of QTEs.

The first video showed a rock-hopping quick-time event. A similar scene is there in “Shenmue 2.” The latest video showcases a YS Net team member working through a QTE test play. The gamepad buttons are seen flashing up on-screen in random patterns. As regards the potential success of the game, there are doubts. It will be interesting to see how the modern take on the cult classic succeeds today. Fans are also divided in their opinion, as revealed by discussion forums. As already mentioned, QTE sequences are not that popular these days.

Nostalgia will play a big role in deciding the success of the game. Moreover, it was recently revealed that a large number of players want to bring the game to Nintendo Switch. In fact, the Shenmue500K Team has even launched a petition on Change.org to convince YS Net in doing just that. Watch the “Shenmue 3” development report video here.