Shenmue 3’s Publishing Rights Transition to Inin Games
Image by Ys To find/Inin Games.
Earlier this week, the publishing rights for Shenmue 3 were handed over to Inin Games.
Both Inin and Ys To find confirmed the update on November 19, stating that this “strengthened the bond” between the two corporations. Deep Silver initially focused on publishing the crowdfunded action-adventure title in 2017, and it was released two years later on PlayStation 4 and PC.
Ys and Inin previously collaborated on 2023’s Air Twister, and this partnership signifies the “next stage” of Shenmue 3’s journey. In their statement, they expressed that the collaboration “marks the start of a new chapter. Inin will collaborate closely with Ys Net to honor the legacy of the series while making it accessible to a broader audience across the globe.”
The original Shenmue titles were launched in 1999 and 2001 for the Sega Dreamcast, and were celebrated for their soundtracks and the ambitions of Sega AM2 and director (and producer and creator) Yu Suzuki. Across various platforms, they served as a model for what Ryu Ga Gotoku would later create with its own Yakuza series: players become involved in the criminal underworld, exploring detailed recreations of real-world locations in Japan and China, engaging in combat using brawling mechanics.
And, of course, minigames. Lots of minigames.
Shenmue 3‘s lengthy journey
In 2015, Suzuki officially announced that Shenmue 3 was in development and called on the series’ fanbase to support its funding. By the conclusion of its Kickstarter campaign in September 2018, it raised $7.18 million, setting numerous records on the platform during the process.
In 2020, Lars Wingefors, the CEO of Deep Silver’s parent company Embracer, commented that Shenmue 3 performed “respectably” in terms of sales but was not positioned to be a “mass market title.” Both Shenmue 3 and Air Twister are titles from Ys To find. As of now, it remains unclear whether this will lead to a completely new Shenmue or a port for current-gen platforms. Shenmue 3 was an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC, and has yet to be released on Steam.
Nonetheless, Inin hinted that more information will be shared “very soon. So if you’re interested, keep an eye on this space!”
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to many websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. Besides Game Developer, his work can also be found at io9 on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s chewed, as the answer is likely to be more than he is willing to admit.