Yesterday, Shenmue III celebrated its first Kickstarter anniversary with a short video from series creator Yu Suzuki. "Your cheers at the Sony announcement still ring in my ears," says the veteran developer, before going into detail about how the project is progressing.
According to Suzuki, things have "really taken off" over the last six months, with key members of the development team now on board. "Battle and facial expressions are coming together, and cheers from the crew are growing. It makes me feel it will turn out to be a good game," he continues.
Overall, Suzuki seems very positive, which is obviously what we want to see, but judging from his words, it's safe to say that the game's got a very, very long way to go before we see it release. As such, Suzuki ends the video by asking fans to continue their support.
So, when do you think Shenmue III will launch? 2017? 2018? 2025? Place your bets in the comments section below.
[source kickstarter.com]
Comments (27)
Well being as it only got funded just over a year ago I would thnk its probably 2019 then carried over to the new system after repeadly being mentioned that it was definatly going to be on PS4. Wait no I am thnking of the Last Guradian my bad.
I'm curious what the protocol will be for people who pledged funds via kickstarter when the game gets cancelled. Will they get a refund?
@Snorky No - Kickstarter isn't a platform for preordering games that are coming out, you put your money down and hope the project materialises. The investments are being spent right now on development costs. I guess there is the possibility of refunds being issued if the funds are there and the developers want to give it back.
Development seems about right, I guess a lot of background work needs to be done before things can start coming together. I expect it will be another year before there is more substantial progress.
That is the problem with Kickstarter - if a game is being developed privately they can wait until they are a fair way into development before announcing anything. With Kickstarter it's in the public domain from the get go and people are expecting a finished project within 2 years..
If a kickstarter fails then I have never heard of backers getting their money back . there have been some high profile failures the last few years. Then there are projects like Occulus Rift where a kick starter project gets funded then sells his company for millions to facebook and gets rich.
As the article above doesn't mention any of this relevant information, I thought I'd write it down for those who wish to know more about how development is going:
The game is scheduled for December 2017 and has been from the start. As of interviews in February, Yu Suzuki and Producer Cedric Biscay have said that the game is still on track to release in that window. As of June 2016, Producer Cedric Biscay has also revealed he tested a playable slice of Shenmue III, so they have at least made progress to the point where something can be played.
Of course, games slip more frequently than ever these days, so a move into 2018 may happen and I don't personally believe it will make December 2017.
That said, there is zero cause for alarm. The Kickstarter has been updating monthly and detailing work done on the game, such as the storyboarding process for the cutscenes, testing motion capture rigs, and environmental design artwork. Cedric Biscay has also said they are waiting to polish the game more before revealing it fully to the public again. Backers are still staying within the loop on development, and the development team are wisely not colouring the view of the game by prematurely showing pre-release materials.
@Spaghetti In other words, it's a heck of a long way off!
Its probably 2 years off.. which isnt far from the projected release date. They've been very good with the updates so far with promises of more indepth progress the further we get in.. I think we are on now.. update 50?
Id say theres little danger of the project being cancelled which is why its the first and only project ive funded.
I don't care as long as it actually happens and then when it does..... It is awesome.
Ive already waited 15 years. Rushing it now just seems pointless
I wouldn't be surprised if it gets delayed to 2018! It'alright though, can wait
All the more reason for Sega to release a remake/remaster of the first 2.
If big games take a long time, and KS games take a long time, this one will take forever.
Shenmue 3 Isn't Going to Be Ready for a Hong Kong While Yet
This is why I think it's foolish to back a Kickstarter. If they want the game to come out they will find some rich studio to give the dev a shot. I will never give a dime to a Kickstarter. I said it at last yr e3 shenmue and FF7 want see the light of day for years. Last guardian will be trash when it comes out this yr.
As much as I thought the games Sony showed at this years E3 were good, almost none will come out next yr besides horizon zero dawn. Spider-Man want be out for at least 2018 or later. Maybe Detroit will be out the end of next yr or beginning of 2018.
@Ewflex Nothing wrong with Kickstarter if people manage their expectations, their has been some great stuff through it. "Nice" prediction regarding Last Guardian though, we'll see lol
@kyleforrester87 lately and hear more negative of kick starters like mighty#9 for example.
I have no hate towards The last guardian but the buzz from everyone who played the demo is meh. Games in development hell rarely ever come out good let alone great.
Surprise, surprise.
@Ewflex Well, for every Mightynumber 9 there is a Hyper Light Drifter or Divinity Original Sin
@Feena
"Delayed to 2018"
I don't see how that would be a "delay". 2018 seems like the earliest feasible target to begin with.
@JaxonH if you look at the kikcstarter project page the estimated delivery date for the physical and digital copies of the game for backers is December 2017.
@Feena
OH really? That was foolish on their behalf. They know that's not happening and so do we. 3 years minimum nowadays, but I guess when you're making a sales pitch, 2 years off is a lot more marketable than 3.
But it will also piss people off a lot more when it ends up taking 4 years, had they just said minimum of 3 to begin with.
That's like Shantae Half Genie Hero, which was supposed to be out in like, Idk, 2014 or something lol. Then it gets delayed to fall. Then to 2015. Then e3 comes and no word, then in fall they say 2016. 2016 comes and they finally announce September release date. It's crazy.
EDIT
Jaxon's new Release date rule of thumb for Kickstarters.
Whatever date they originally pitch as their estimate, tack on 1-2 years and you're looking at the real, actual, verified release date.
@JaxonH yes, kinda saw this coming and as you say 2019 wouldn't also feel too shocking.
@Ewflex Ohhhh a bad project on kickstarter now we all have to stop funding I have a good working game. And 2 more incoming Knights and Bikes From LBP developers and Bloodstained for the PS4. Funding is no garantee it gives you a chance that the game will come. For me will take a chance for € 60 and if it come I get the retail version of Bloodstained. And with Knights and Bikes I really like their artwork and the effort they took to give me a chance to fund on PayPal.To make a long story short if you want to take a chance and really want it invest. Otherwise preorder if you want a sure thing and live with the knowledge that some game will never be.
@kyleforrester87 +1000
@kyleforrester87
only issue of the stuff I backed before giving up I only ever got 2 things from it
Problem is will I even remember the story from the first two when it does release? Can barely remember it all now, lol.
I'm betting it'll be an episodic release with the first slice releasing end of 2017/early 2018, and a physical copy releasing later with all episodes.
Never been a Shenmue fan so the outcome doesnt affect me one way or another.
Pfft, 2019 is still a lot closer than the previous release date of 'never', so I'm happy enough. I'm just glad Yu Suzuki is making games again - if nothing else I'd love to see his name attached to more projects again. Either way, I backed the Kickstarter and would do so again - totally worth the risk in my eyes.
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