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.

22 October 2008 17:53
Hope

Well if they require money why doesn’t every shenmue fans fund raise money and donate it to shenmue? Like theres probraly millions of fans who would support shenmue to finally witness the ending of Ryu Hazuki story.

29 October 2008 18:23
SHARKfint

Guys —– I’ve gotten over the excitement in 2006 when rumors came out that Shenmue III was due out in ‘07. There is plenty out now and still to come!! We can wait!!! It is going to happen!!!! It’s just the state of Sega at the moment!!!!! If Shenmue was a Nintendo title with their popularity, 3 would be out now, if it was a Sony or Microsoft title with their money, 3 would be out now!!!!!!! Sega need to gather some ground (alot of ground) on their rivals to make this game!! They know the gamer wants it but they can’t take this risk right now!! I really agree with some of the comments above about trying to fund this project the gamers ourselves but we the gamers need to target publishers outside of Sega for this title I really hate to say this but such a power house is EA, they really do have the money at moment, to cut this long ratter short it looks like this game isn’t coming out until between 2010-2015

24 November 2008 01:38
infernus41

Sega should stop wasting their money making sonic games that will fail and make shenmue 3 damn it! i mean seriously all the money that they lost due to crappy sonic games, they could have made shenmue 3.

15 December 2008 15:31
BigZ7104

I don’t know about anybody else but I hope they change up the gameplay back to how the first two releases were if they make a sequel. One of the main reasons I loved shenmue so much was that there were no bull$#!+ fireballs and mystical magic crap. They need to stick to the style based fighting, with basic moves and such. If they change that part it’s not shenmue anymore. Might as well call it street fighter.

20 December 2008 16:25
i love shenmue 2

i like shenmue 2.it shudn’t have magic although magic is good but shemue is so good because of the fightin moves.

5 January 2009 15:34
cdx1

if you really want shenmue 3 the only way is to appeal to the likes of microsoft or the evil sony, as witch ever system does get the game will sell like hot cakes. I know many many people both online and offline that will buy any system just to get Shenmue 3. everyone send and email to microsoft or one of the other console manufactures this is more worth while that bugging Sega as they can’t afford it.

6 January 2009 15:57
tohru856

I WANT THE SHENMUE 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! isn’t there a petition??

6 January 2009 15:57
tohru856

I WANT THE SHENMUE 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! isn’t there a petition?? there should be!

17 January 2009 13:34
PETE01

cdx1 is right we need to appleal to console manufactures if we want this game to come out come on nintendo or microsoft

14 March 2009 20:27
mr.crowley

at least susuki could tell us how the story ends?? -.-