In 2019,Shenmue 3finally released. While the game was met with mixed critical reception, fan feedback was relatively positive and publisher Deep Silver deemed the game a success, acknowledging in an investor’s meeting that the game’s audience was “niche.” The game’s ending begets a new question though, “where isShenmue 4?” After some vague teases from AA game publisher 110 Industries,Shenmue 4’s announcement could be imminent.
110 Industries first caught the attention ofShenmuefans in September 2021, when series creator Yu Suzuki was featured in the publisher’s Tokyo Game Show press conference. The publisher is currently promoting the upcoming third-person action gameWanted: DeadfromNinja Gaidendirector Hiroaki Matsui. In March 2022, after revealing concept art forWanted: Deadon the publisher’s Instagram,a hopefulShenmuefan suggested that the company should publishShenmue 4, to which the account responded, “Why do you think Yu Suzuki was in our TGS stream?”
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TheShenmueseries has seen a revival in popularity lately after over two years sinceShenmue 3’s releasethanks to the airing of Toonami and Crunchyroll’sShenmue: The Animation, which is an anime adaptation of the first two games in the series fromLupin IIIandMegalo Boxanimation studio TMS Entertainment. Many fans have wondered if the anime will tie into an upcomingShenmueproject, however the anime’s staff have been adamant that production on the show started whileShenmue 3was in development, with Yu Suzuki supervising the story.
Now, after the penultimate episode of the anime aired this past Saturday, 110 Industries has re-emerged teasing a “big announcement” coming in the “next couple of weeks.” Accompanying the post is an image of a banana and apple. ManyShenmuefanshave already taken this to mean that 110 Industries is referencingShenmue 3, in which players can choose to make Ryo eat an apple and banana before work every day.
Last year, Yu Suzuki claimed that he had multiple projects in development that he planned to reveal in 2021, one of which he claimed was a “sequel.” In that same year,Shenmue 3producer Cédric Biscay revealed that YS Net was still pitchingShenmue 4to potential publishers. It appears that the game may finally be revealed, however the reveal may not come immediately after the anime finishes airing later this week.Many video game events for the summer are quickly approaching such as Summer Game Fest, so even if the final episode airs without an announcement,Shenmue 4is likely to be revealed soon.
