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.

15 July 2008 16:12
nicky

should i…cry?
…
for all we know, poor ryo has been trapped in a trash bin for at nearly a decade.
in such a state—>
how will he win useless prizes at the convenience store, or play “hard to get” with the ladies?
…
please—set him free.
T.T

19 July 2008 15:56
nikinder

plzplzplzplplz make a shenmue 3 cuz u jus want to know if ryo finds lan di or not plus we have been waiting for ages……plz make a shenmue 3

2 August 2008 15:28
Coaran

They have to make shenmue 3 or the ending to shenmue 2 will just make no sense and no one will no what happens! online game looks bad anyway

5 August 2008 07:55
Sam

SEGA GO GO F@CK TEHMSELVES!
W@NKERS!!!!!!
WHAT IS THE POINT IN BRINGING OUT A TRILOGY, THEN ONLY BRINGING OUT 2 OF THE GAMES…
THAT IS LIKE LORD OF THE RINGS ENDING AFTER THE 2 TOWERS!
W@NKERS!
I LOVED SHENMUE, THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT AND WELL AHEAD OF THE TIMES, THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE DREAMCAST AND THE PS2 KICKED IT’S @RSE!…
REALLY AM GUTTED AS I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END… SEGA…. W@NKERS!
IF THEY BOUGHT OUT THE TRILOGY FOR THE WII FOR AROUND £40 IT WOULD SELL LIKE HOTCAKES…!
SEGA = W@NKERS!

6 August 2008 14:21
trendy

i think yu suzuki is a prick
i mean once u start a story it has to be finished
f*ck the money he should just get off his ass and make the f*cking game
ive been waiting since i was like 11 and im now im 16
every should have a debate about this and get this game happening

20 August 2008 14:52
Clarence

What happened to shenmue 3 because Ive been waiting 7 year and i dont want to wait any longer. Everyone NEEDS to know what happens to ryo. You have disappointed million… no TRILLIONS of shenmue fans. There has to be a Shenmue 3 because Ive seen the previews and the trailer saying that shenmue 3 will be coming soon so I hope yall arent lying to us and confirmeed it too. Please finish the game because the legacy MUST continue because you shouldnt let the sega franchise passing keep you from releasing shenmue 3 to the public everyone needs to know the story. Please open your eyes and SEE how it would make sega the best there is and best there ever will be. Think about PLEASE.

20 August 2008 15:00
Shanty

Why are they cancelling Shenmue 3. I love the game because ryo is s exy and love how he fights. Shenmue is actually said to be the greatest game ever made. By cancelling it will the biggest mistake sega will ever make in their life in the gaming business. So everyone is demanding shenmue 3 or sega will be messed up.

30 August 2008 09:35
Jeff Booker

This is complete bullsh*t. I played Shenmue when it was very first released on Sega Dreamcast and immediately fell in love with the story, characters, ect… I anxiously waited for the US release of Shenmue II on the Sega Dreamcast when I found out that they weren’t releasing it for the Dreamcast in the US. As I was preparing to purchase a copy of Shenmue II - European Version and just use the Gameshark CDX which I already had. Then I found out that Shenmue II was being ported to the Xbox and sold in the US so I decided to just wait for the Xbox version of Shenmue II. I went out and purchased an Xbox for the sole purpose of playing Shenmue II. Now after years and years of rumors and speculation to find out that they have no intention of making or ever releasing Shenmue III is just heart breaking. As far as I am concerned Sega has let their fans down and is no longer reputable video game company.

4 September 2008 17:56
jessica

i agree

29 September 2008 03:14
d.w.

i miss this game i had to go buy the 2nd one just play it all over again thats f__k up it wont come out with 3 some one needs to do something about it leaving it unfinish i wont to kick lun de *ss