Overnight, SEGA announced that it will release Shenmue I and II for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year. This is likely to be a move to rejuvenate the interest in the IP ahead of the upcoming Shenmue III release, also due for release later this year.
Series creator Yu Suzuki had shared the hope of being able to incorporate the first two installments in the third, but this re-release may jeopardize that plan of his. Below you can find the full press release and announcement trailer.
SEGA Europe Ltd. is proud to announce that the pioneering epic saga Shenmue I & II is to be re-released for a new generation. Get ready to go on a thrilling voyage across faithful recreations of Japan and Hong Kong, China, in a timeless tale of revenge and mystery when Shenmue I & II launches both physically and digitally on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with a PC release on Steam in 2018.
Since their original release, Shenmue I & II have established a passionate following and are revered as one of gaming's greatest series of all time. These revolutionary masterpieces deliver a gripping story of retribution as Ryo Hazuki sets out to avenge his father's death and attempts to unravel the secrets behind a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Mirror.
Shenmue I & II comes complete with the original feature set that defined modern gaming, including enthralling jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, and RPG elements in addition to memorable mini-games. Shenmue I & II is set within engrossing real-time open worlds that feel truly alive thanks to day-to-night cycles and weather changes, with a population of civilians who follow their own schedules.
This is the definitive version of these all-time classics and will be the best Shenmue experience to date. The re-release will stay true to the originals with modernized features including fully scalable screen resolution, choice of modern or classic control schemes, PC graphics options, an updated user interface and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers.
The physical and digital editions will be available to pre-order from first-party stores, Steam and US and EMEA retailers soon.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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