SEGA's Shenmue franchise has had its highs and lows, but one thing that is an inarguable fact is that the franchise has helped usher in some fantastic gameplay mechanics and narratives. Since 1999, the franchise that feels like a martial arts movie series has been entertaining its players and has also kept them in quiet anticipation as the franchise's third installment, Shenmue III, endured multiple delays from 2017 to 2019.
Now that the game has been released, there have been some divisive feelings regarding the game. While some have loved the game and felt it a fitting inclusion into the franchise, others have felt that the groundbreaking technology that made the original two such a hit are nonexistent in the new title as it made no efforts to advance its gameplay. However, love it to hate it, the game is here now and far from done with reaching new platforms.
According to a blog update on the Shenmue website, the latest game will now be moving to Steam later this year! This could mean a lot for the title, as some players love to check under the hood of many games and try to modify it in various ways. Could this mean that there will be some custom changes coming to Shenmue, or will it be more of the same?
There is a lot to unpack with the Shenmue franchise, but one thing is certain, the martial arts fun is here to stay! We would love to hear your thoughts on the new update in the comments below!
Shenmue III begins March 21, 1987. Ryo Hazuki has made his way to Guilin, China in search of his father's killer, Lan Di. There he meets a new travelling companion, Shenhua Ling, and learns of a legend from her village that has foretold their path together. The story continues as Ryo and Shenhua start off on a new journey that will take them farther into enemy territory, deeper into mystery.
Shenmue III will be available on Steam on November 19th!