Yu Suzuki and Publisher ININ Games have announced Shenmue III Enhanced as part of Gamescom 2025, which the publisher has described as “the most refined version of Ryo Hazuki’s epic journey,” seeing the 2019 title get a host of new features and enhanced visuals. In addition, Shenmue III Enhanced will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, marking the first time the game will be released beyond the PlayStation, which was originally released on PlayStation 4 and PC. The title will also be released on Nintendo platforms, though the specifics of this have not been specified yet, making it unclear at this time if it will be a Nintendo Switch 2, original Switch, or both.
The enhanced version of the game will be “more vibrant, more responsive, and more accessible than ever, guided by Yu Suzuki’s vision,” ININ Games stated. They also stated “sharper” textures, faster loading times, as well as smoother gameplay. An increase in NPC density and a classic camera mode resembling Shenmue 1 and 2 will also be added to the game, along with various gameplay tweaks.
Shenmue 3 Enhanced Features:
- Enhanced Graphics & Performance – Sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay.
- 4K Texture Uplift – Refined, more detailed environments and characters.
- DLSS/FSR Support – High-quality upscaling without sacrificing performance (supported platforms only).
- Increased NPC Density – The city village Niaowu feels more alive with more characters populating the streets.
- Classic Camera Mode – An optional camera perspective inspired by Shenmue I & II, alongside the modern view.
- Gameplay Tweaks – Optional stamina system adjustments, health restoration before fights, and reduced money barriers for smoother progression.
- Improved Interactions – Cutscene and conversation skip options, expanded QTE timing window for more accessible gameplay.
- Menu & UX Enhancements – Streamlined navigation and helpful purchase alerts.
- Optionality First – All major changes can be toggled to preserve the original experience for purists.
ININ Games took over as publisher for Shenmue III on November 19th, 2024, the official 5th anniversary of the title’s initial release, stating, “Known for our commitment to celebrating beloved titles and bringing them to new platforms, ININ Games is excited to shepherd Shenmue III into its next phase,” which will finally start to materialize here. Yu Suzuki launched a Kickstarter in 2015 to fund Shenmue III (A kickstarter I donated $500 to), which promised to see a third entry released, with the last game coming out in 2001. Deep Silver acted as publisher for Shenmue III during its initial release.
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