Shenmue Online cancelled, Shenmue 3 not happening as Sega’s franchise dies

6 August 2007
Ferry

Shenmue Online cancelled, Shenmue 3 not happening as Sega’s franchise dies

Back in February 2006, Shenmue creator and veteran game designer Yu Suzuki, confirmed that the mysterious Shenmue MMO venture Shenmue Online (that was announced in 2004) was still in development: “The story will be finished through games.” Later that year at the China Joy 2006 game event Sega unveiled new info in an Shenmue Online trailer and gameplay videos that you can watch below.

Sadly that’s the last we’ll see of any Shenmue games, since Shenmue Online has been canceled and will more than likely never see another sequel like Shenmue 3. Seganerds reports that ever since the game didn’t show up at China Joy 2007 it’s continued development has been questioned.

It’s now been confirmed by Kikizo staff saying: “As for Shenmue, I would have to say at this stage, it is worth forgetting about. If all the fans get any rich relatives together and channel it though Dojo perhaps we could buy rights, hire Suzuki (he’d likely say yes) and independently make the game under license from Sega at no risk to them. That is the only way it will get made at this stage I think.”

The following words must’ve been really hard for the Shenmue fans to say: “To clarify, what I meant was I wanted to get clarification on something I heard a couple of days ago, which is that yes, Shenmue Online is f*cked and Suzuki’s status is, once again, up in the air, which counts Shenmue III totally out of the picture right now. This is confirmed, it seems.”

Wow double-sad news! Now I have to go tell some friends who are fans of Shenmue and Shenmue II.

Shenmue Online 2006 video Part 1:

Shenmue Online 2006 video Part 2:

Full video of Shenmue Online originally found at Ameba.

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18 March 2009 19:33
Huntaire

think about it if they bring shenmue 3 out on xbox360 then the end of shenmue 2 on dreamcast will be a complete waste of time because its going nowhere,i.e you can pick up when you left off all the money you made will be gone etc..they would have to bring it out on the dreamcast, my dreamcast still works but finding a t.v that takes the lead is kinda hard to find…..

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21 March 2009 01:42
Brett Haydon

I think that this is B/S! When i was little i played Shenmue so damn much! I still play it and the second one. I don’t know how the ell someone could drop this game just like that, that is f*cked! Come on nintendo get some better graphics on the Wii, and release this game, I’m waiting! If i had the f*cking money i would go through and make it my self, but i don’t have those kind of funds.

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25 April 2009 18:59
Jeremy

This makes me angry, very angry… It’s all yu’s fault. He shouldn’t have rushed he should have waited for the first xbox to release shenmue. They wouldve made more money for the making of the second. Then they would have even more for the 3 rd. They need to do something. I’ve played shenmue and shenmue 2 so many times I know exactly what everybodys gonna say before the say it. I wish I could find Yu , and then…….

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