Is A Shenmue HD Remaster Due To Drop Later This Year? - Report

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Dom Peppiatt

UK blog and online retailer Rice Digital has reported that the Shenmue I & II HD remasters will be see a release in 2017.

Apparently, a source at Atlus USA close to the author on the site revealed that 'both games, Episodes I & II, may be released together rather than separately.' It continues 'They are presumably being geared up for launch to precede Shenmue III, which could possibly slip into 2018.'

The post does state that the game(s) are likely to see a PC launch, with no mention of consoles... though if the Remaster is intended to stoke the appetite for Shenmue III, the publisher would be remiss to skip a console version of the game. Even though Shenmue III currently isn't listed for Xbox One, the Shenmue franchise has a home on the Xbox platform, so we'd hope to see it come to the console should these rumours prove true.

It's also interesting to note that Sega registered some domains referring to Shenmue HD earlier this year. Coincidence? Maybe not.

Rice Digital reports work on the remasters is almost complete, and we're inclined to believe this more than other rumors - after all, Rice Digital reported King of Fighters XIV in the West before anyone else and that turned out to be totally true. This information supposedly comes from the same source close to Atlus.

We'll have more information as it becomes available.

Comments
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  • Don't want to be THAT guy, but if this is true...it probably will be for PS4/PC seeing as Shenmue 3 will be on PS4/PC. It would make sense to be on Xbox since Shenmue 2 was on the OG Xbox years ago. PlayStation never had any Shenmue game. I hope the HD remasters release for every platform though.
  • Not sure how I feel about this. I loved Shenmue when I played on Dreamcast but I just can't see how well it will port. It was such a fun game to play. 18 Years later though? I don't want to ruin my memories of this game.
  • @2 I replayed both of them last year (for the first time in about 10 years) and they're still both masterpieces. I'm not oblivious to first timers though, some of the systems and mechanics will be antiquated to those people but the narrative and commitment to story is still top notch.
  • #1 Couldn't agree more. Since the One is being snubbed, it makes no sense for an HD release to be done for it...unfortunately. While I never played Shenmue II, Shenmue is probably one of the games I lost the most hours on with the Dreamcast.
  • @2 I agree. Also I'm kinda getting over all the HD remakes this generation feels like everything I buy is an old game that got a remaster.
  • @2,5 I agree, the whole remaster thing is getting tired now. Even though it's a first for Shenmue it seems like the same games are getting re-released over and over again these days. Dreamcast was my favourite system up until 360 but most of its games that were re-released had half the charm they did the first time around, whether it be the HD visuals making old games look worse on newer screens, edited soundtracks for Crazy Taxi, no special controllers for Bass Fishing, or no VMU for SA chaos... Most of what made Shenmue so special the first time around was because it hadn't been done before. I sometimes wish such classics were left remembered the way they were than rehashed and forgotten about by the end of the year.
  • The exception to what I said being RezHD, one of the first 360 remasters and actually better than the original. Still my favourite to this day.
  • I would definitely welcome a remaster of Shenmue I&II if they were done right. As what to #2 said, don't want it to ruin those fond memories of playing them on the Dreamcast. I'm still holding out hope that Shenmue III will make its way to the Xbox, so maybe we'll see it on the Scorpio perhaps?
  • @1 I don't think that they've explicitly stated that it isn't coming to the Xbone, or am I wrong?
  • I really wish to see these games ported to modern consols. Honestly when i sold my dreamcast the only game i tough i could regret was the original Shenmue. All other games i had version on something else (including Shenmue 2 on Xbox) as Sega is good for porting there games everywhere generally. If its only PC i will be disapointed but it wouldn't make sense to not release them at least on PS4 as Shenmue 3 is coming on it. As for the xbox i doubt it, since from what i heard Sony is partly financing Shenmue 3. I would be happy obviously but i doubt it. But you can bet im getting a PS4 ONLY for Shenmue 3 anyway so PS4 or Xbox, im fine with either. I just hope its not just PC. Im a consol gamer, i don't game on PC at all.
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