If you saw the Shenmue 4 trailer that went viral recently and were hoping it was leading to an announcement, then you’re going to be disappointed. Ys Net, the studio founded by Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki, has issued a statement condemning the trailer as a fake while also hinting that it may take legal action against the trailer’s creator.
In a post on social media, Ys Net said the fake Shenmue 4 trailer “uses our company logo without permission, falsely giving the impression that is an official Shenmue 4 related video produced by us.” The statement adds that there have been no official Shenmue 4 materials released, and that the studio is “currently working with relevant parties and preparing appropriate measures, including potential legal action” against the creator of the trailer.
The original Shenmue was released in 1999 on Sega Dreamcast, and it cast players as a young man, Ryo Hazuki, as he sought to avenge his father’s death. The game had innovative takes on open-world gameplay and quicktime events that proved to be very influential in the video game industry. Shenmue 2 followed in 2001, but the franchise went on hiatus due to low sales.
Following Suzuki’s departure from Sega, Shenmue 3 was successfully crowdfunded and released in 2019. Earlier this year, Inin Games and Suzuki announced that Shenmue 3 Enhanced will be coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo consoles. That version of the game will feature numerous visual upgrades including 4K texture uplift for the environments and characters. It will also feature increased density of NPC characters in the streets to make the game world feel more alive.
Last year, a group of dedicated Shenmue fans launched a campaign for Shenmue 4 by purchasing a Times Square ad in New York. It remains to be seen if that campaign will ultimately lead to the franchise getting a new sequel.