Shenmue 3!

Shenmue 3 may be a thing in the future, as the original director of the Shenmue 1 & Shenmue 2 has created a Kickstarter page to help crowdfund the next game; Shenmue 3. Within 12 hours, the game had reached it's $2 million dollar goal, and as of 23/06/2015, it has reached $3.5 million dollars, with 44,733 backers. The game still has 24 days left before the Kickstarter ends. It's become fact that Sony will be working with Playstation to help make the game, including financially. Shenmue 1 had a budget of $47 million dollars, so really this is simply to test the water - do the fans want it?

Clearly they do, judging by how fast it had reached it's funding goal. However, the director, Yu Suzuki, has said if they could reach $10 million dollars in crowdfunding, he could make his dream a reality in the game.

The Kickstarter page goes into great detail about the game, and even shows off some Work-in-Progress screenshots of the game. It also has concept art, team members and a plethora of backing incentives ranging from $5 to $10,000 dollars. Naturally, all of the $10,000 dollar backer spots have been taken, which includes dinner with Yu Suzuki or getting Ryo's jacket. This jacket has been worn by Masaya Matsukaze during all of the press events 14 years ago. 

Pledging $3,000 however, gets you a replica of that jacket, which is still pretty cool. I have to admit, the variety of incentives to back this project is quite impressive; they've certainly thought of great incentives to get as many people as they can on-board with this project. 

Yu Suzuki says he has always wanted to make Shenmue 3, and during the 14 years since the release date of Shenmue 2, he has always been asked by fans about when Shenmue 3 will be released.

Yu Suzuki wanted to keep the dream alive, and so he learnt of Kickstarter, and after looking into it, he decided to give it a go. He wants the game to be made "For the Fans, by the Fans". Using Kickstarter, he claims he can finally bring about Shenmue 3. 

The trailer for the Kickstarter page also shows off some in-game footage with (what I would imagine) placeholder voice overs. The game will take place in China.