Shenmue director is considering a Yakuza 0-style prequel

Shenmue 3 might have ended with more questions than answers, but Yu Suzuki wants to look back instead of forward for the next action game. In a recent interview with IGN, Suzuki said he’s considered taking an approach similar to what RGG Studios did with Yakuza 0 and creating a prequel that served as an onboarding point for new players.

Suzuki said he can’t go into detail yet, but the prospect of making a Yakuza–style prequel is something he’s given considerable thought.

“I want Shenmue 4 to be enjoyable for newcomers,” Suzuki said. “To make that possible, the most important thing is to make it enjoyable without knowing previous events in the story. I think recreating the streets of Dobuita with modern visuals on a new engine alone would make it worth doing. It also connects to the topic of not simply expanding in size. Making an even more detailed Dobuita than the original Shenmue is an interesting idea, especially if it’s not a remake but a prequel with a new story.”

Calling something “for the fans” is usually pretty trite, but it’s true for Shenmue 3. Fans crowdfunded the project, like they often do with indie games and projects that don’t have full backing, and IGN says Suzuki felt he had to honor their wishes and make the game they wanted, rather than the one he wanted to create.

Whether Shenmue 4 actually happens is another matter. Suzuki didn’t say whether production or even planning had begun on such a project, and he mentioned he has other games he’d like to make anyway.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF