Shenmue: What Does the Future Hold?

Before the original Shenmue was unleashed upon the Japanese video gaming market in 1999, it was heralded as being the catalyst for the Sega Dreamcast to build on its encouraging start to console life. However, just 13 months after Shenmue was first on the shelves in Japan, the Dreamcast was discontinued. The release of the all-conquering PS2 was the foremost reason for the demise of Sega’s latest – and to date, last – console.

Alas, the failure of the Dreamcast also had a negative impact on the Shenmue series. Intended to be released over a multitude of installments, the series is currently stalled at just game number two. Depressingly, Shenmue has remained in that state for over 10 years with very little encouragement coming from Sega over the years that they intend to reboot the franchise. A poxy mobile phone game going by the name of Shenmue Gai was released in 2010, but its similarities end before they have even begun. The canned Shenmue Online didn’t help matters, either.