Shenmue III is a project that's been in development for quite a long time, but hardcore fans of the
Shenmue series have been patient because they've put their trust in the project; after all, it is thanks to them supporting the Kickstarter campaign that the game even exists.
This past E3, Deep Silver released a new trailer for the long-awaited title, leaving some fans scratching their heads over the quality of the game; mainly due to the graphics, which look, for the lack of a more professional word, unpolished. Regardless, there was still some excitement for the game — until fans realized that
Shenmue III was now an Epic Games Store exclusive.
Shenmue III, pretty much since it was announced, had been advertised as a PlayStation 4 and Steam title and, according to the
official Kickstarter website for Shenmue III, the game will now only be releasing for PC via the Epic Games Store and not Steam.
The reason why this is a huge problem is because the Kickstarter backers have supported the game as both a PlayStation 4 and Steam title, and out of the blue Deep Silver and Ys Net decide to make the game an Epic Games Store exclusive for PC players; something that rubbed backers the wrong way — for all of the right reasons.
It is worth mentioning that the game is still coming out for the PlayStation 4, since the problem here lies within the fact that PC players will no longer get the game on Steam.
Four days ago, Deep Silver and Ys Net
updated fans on their Kickstarter website, revealing that they are listening to fan concerns and asking for patience. This was during the final day of the E3, and they still haven't updated fans about the whole issue.
The statement reads as follows:
We want to make sure that the Backers are aware that we are listening to their concerns. We kindly ask all our fans to have some patience, we are currently at E3 demoing the game and need to get back to our respective offices to assess the situation and together find a way forward to justify the trust you placed in us.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Ys Net and Deep Silver better deal with this soon, since a lot of backers are already demanding a refund. With all of the delays, their patience was already running out, and Shenmue III no longer being a Steam title is just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Journey deep into rural China as you take on the role of Ryo Hazuki, a Japanese teenager hellbent on finding his father’s killer—a story of adventure, mystery, friendship, martial arts, and ultimately, revenge!
Shenmue III will be available for the PlayStation 4 and PC(Epig Games Store) on the 19th of November.