While Shenmue 3 is still a long way off release — at least 12 months — fans are clamouring for a return to the series that in many ways helped define the short life of the SEGA Dreamcast.
The open-world series was ahead of its time upon release in 2000, and despite having aged as one might expect an open-world game from 2000 to age, there’s still a big, passionate following behind it.
We know as much, because Shenmue 3 is on the way. Let’s face it: we wouldn’t be getting that game unless there was enough interest in the franchise.
Interestingly, even Sega, the license holder of the first two entries, sees how popular it is among gamers, and won’t discount the possibility of a remaster.
Speaking with MCV, SEGA Europe boss Jurgen Post said that while nothing was confirmed or in the making, a remaster of Shenmue 1 and 2 was something the company was looking at.
“There is definitely a desire ,” said Post. “Even online, people are constantly talking about products they would like to see come back, and Shenmue 1 and 2 are probably in the top two places. We are looking into it. It is an old IP, it is a beloved IP – and not just by consumers, but also within Sega, we have people saying that if we could do Shenmue 1 and 2 all over again, we’d definitely go for it.”
Post said that the main issue with the titles is that they’re big games, and that being such old games, it would require a lot of effort to justify the remaster with a quality product.
“There are a lot of licences in the game, which were cleared many years ago, so we will need to renegotiate those contracts. We are looking into it. We haven’t given it a green light, but it has our full attention.”
Good news for Shenmue fans! Do you think a remaster could hold up in the modern era? Sound off in the comments below!
[youtube]https://youtu.be/xducmV_7ECw[/youtube]
