Yu Suzuki Considers Yakuza 0-Inspired Shenmue Prequel
Even though Shenmue 4 is not in development, Suzuki considers making the future game enjoyable for newcomers as well.
Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Yakuza 0
In the latest interview with IGN, Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki has expressed his interest in developing a fourth game in the series, potentially as a more accessible prequel similar to Yakuza 0. While Shenmue 3 was primarily targeted towards loyal fans who supported the Kickstarter campaign, Suzuki now aims to make Shenmue 4 enjoyable for newcomers as well.
He believes that players don't need to know the entire story, but rather just over 20 percent of it to fully enjoy the game. To achieve this, Suzuki plans to integrate the main events of previous games directly into Shenmue 4 instead of relying on separate digest movies. Playable flashbacks could also be included to allow players to learn about past events organically while playing.
"I want Shenmue 4 to be enjoyable for newcomers. To make that possible, the most important thing is to make it enjoyable without knowing previous events in the story. I don't think that a new player wants to know 100 percent of the story. 20 or 30 percent could be enough," stated Suzuki.
Image credit: YS Net, Shenmue III
Although the confirmation of Shenmue 4's production is still pending, Suzki continues to discuss the future of the series. Given Yakuza 0's success as a pivotal title for the Yakuza series, especially in the West, Suzuki wonders if a similar prequel approach could serve as a more accessible entry point for new players in the Shenmue series.
When asked about this possibility, the series creator confirmed that he had indeed contemplated such a direction. While unable to provide specific details at the time, Suzuki expressed his ongoing deliberation on the matter. He highlighted the potential in recreating the streets of Dobuita with modern visuals on a new engine, emphasizing the value of not merely expanding the scale of the game. Suzuki's vision includes the idea of crafting an even more intricate and detailed Dobuita, the original setting of Shenmue, within the context of a prequel featuring a fresh narrative.
Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Yakuza 0
Although Shenmue 4 is not explicitly in development, Suzuki assured fans that he is keeping himself occupied with various ventures. In addition to the Shenmue series, he expressed a desire to explore ideas for other games and confirmed that his team is currently working on a new project, although specifics were not disclosed at the time.
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