Sega confirms Shenmue remasters are finally happening (original) (raw)
Both games arriving in a single package later this year.
It's the news many have been waiting for - Sega is releasing remasters of the first two Shenmue games, and they're coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC later this year.
The re-release of Shenmue 1 and 2 will be available together as a single package and will remain "true to the originals", according to Sega, while offering scalable screen resolutions and PC graphics options, modern or classic control schemes and an updated user interface.
You can also choose between English or Japanese voiceovers, for those who want the option.
The package - available both physically and digitally - marks the first time Shenmue has been made available on another console outside the Sega Dreamcast. The sequel, first released in 2001, was later released on the original Xbox.
Sega has famously taken its time over porting Shenmue to modern systems - to the point where fans started doing it themselves - though in 2016 the publisher said it was "looking into" the idea.
The timing makes sense when you consider the crowdfunded Shenmue 3 is set to arrive later this year. Here's hoping we can carry save data - and capsule toy collections - from one game to the next.
If you want to know why Shenmue's tale of a teenager tracking down his father's killer in 1980s Japan was so special, Digital Foundry's John Linneman took a deep dive in the DF Retro video above, while Martin had a closer look at the second game's take on Hong Kong.