So, earlier this week, Shenmue III was confirmed as actually being in development, which any fan of the series can only interpret as a good thing. However, there were some question marks hanging over it. Like the projected system, for one - are we to assume Xbox, because that's the one with the series' history? Maybe. But don't speak too soon.
Because... representatives at Sega-AM2 have just confirmed that, if all goes to plan, Yu Suzuki and his team hope to construct Shenmue III as part of a larger collection, including Shenmue and Shenmue II and possibly packaged as some sort of "Shenmue III Special Edition" (that's a lotta Shenmue). They've decided to develop the game in such a fashion because the legacy is so fragmented: from Dreamcast to Xbox and to god-knows-where next. The three parts will, it's hoped, appear on separate discs within the package. AM2 have updated their website to contain this news, and a reliable translation of the piece on their front page follows:
"Approximately one-year and ten months since Shenmue II was released and we are gradually getting the development of Shenmue III moving! But, currently it has not been decided for any console. We would like to make a special edition of the game, which will include the rest of the storyline. If possible, we would like to have it start from Chapter 1 and develop it as Shenmue III: Special Edition. A Special Edition of long-awaited Shenmue III. (Shenmue LOVE ?)"
(Translation by Zhao of shenmuedojo.net)
Interesting, no? Especially the Shenmue LOVE? part. Puts you in mind of some sort of involuntary euphoric outburst. Lovely.
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