Every now and again rumors surface of a completed project of the Shenmue series being in the works, creating waves of anticipation in the sea of Shenmue fans who’s been patiently waiting for six years for SEGA’s official word. We’ve seen fake screenshots and trailers, we’ve fell for slated release dates, and have heard rumors of a completed game sitting on SEGA’s shelves collecting dust for one reason or another. Yet we remain hopeful, knowing that the man who gave birth to the amazing creation that is Shenmue, Yu Suzuki, has an active role there at the company.
Mr. Suzuki was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2003.
But as the years go by and Yu Suzuki’s role become less and less, our hope of experiencing the final chapters of Shenmue diminish as well. Recently, according to SEGA Sammy, Yu Suzuki has “retired” from the role of R&D (Research and Development) Creative Officer, and as of April 15, 2009 will be a member of the Amusement R&D Division. Notice in SEGA Sammy’s records, Yu Suzuki is on the list as “retired”, but is noted to have made a “personal change” on April 1st, to stay as a member of the company. What does this mean? Was it a company mistake, or did Suzuki change his mind last minute about retirement?
Sega Race TV was the last game Suzuki has designed for SEGA AM. It released in Japanese arcades in 2008.
Whatever it means, news of retiring- in this case almost retiring- is not good news at all for Shenmue fans around the world. Maybe he changed his mind because he wanted to go out with a BANG and finish one of his greatest works. Why not go out on a good note? Or maybe I’m just harboring more blind hope for something that will never come; after all the hope of finally avenging Ryu Hazuki and defeating Lan Di is the only thing that keeps us Shenmue fans warm at night.
April 4th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Damn, that is pretty disheartening.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I think anyone expecting Shenmue to ever be properly concluded was always going to be in for disappointment. At the time it was the most expensive game ever made, and for the least popular console. The fact that Shenmue II even saw a Western release on the Xbox, again the least-selling console of the generation, still amazes me.
If only they had shelved a few of those god-awful Sonic games and put their money into Shenmue III…
April 4th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
This is so disappointing. The leaked trailers all over the interwebs have left me hangin for so long…and it could have been really fantastic too.
April 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Shenmue is my all time favorite game.
I loved it so much and waited for the SECOND to come out… when they said that it wasn’t gonna come out in America for another year and on the XBOX I was broken hearted. So I got a swap disc and got it from oversea for my dreamcast, haha. I have waited FOREVER for shenmue 3 
and unfortunately the news is always disappointing. The thing that gets me is that if this game had been made more in this time period, it probably would have hit off better. But as for now, I refuse to fully ever give up haha, and if I ever win the lottery I’m funding the project to get made 
April 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Yeah, this makes me even SAD-ER
I’m with you poisoningkisses, I was thinking one day, if every Shenmue fan donated $5 to SEGA and Suzuki, maybe we can get a game produced! Of course, it better be $5 off when I buy it, lol!