Developer Ys Net has issued a statement regarding the recent Shenmue IV trailer that has been doing the rounds online, confirming the footage has no connection to the studio.
The Shenmue IV trailer emerged on YouTube and lasted around five minutes in length, showcasing Ryo Hazuki and his companion Ren going about their business, duffing up bad guys and taking part in various side activities. Fans who have seen the trailer have commented how the trailer is extremely detailed in terms of lore, and there was obviously hope among Shenmue followers that it was real and not AI-generated.
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However, Ys Net has confirmed that the company has not released anything regarding Shenmue IV — including trailers, footage, or promotional material — which confirms that the trailer is indeed fake. The company also revealed that it is considering taking legal action.
Ys Net Inc. has confirmed that a video has been posted on social media which uses our company logo without permission, falsely giving the impression that it is an an official ‘Shenmue 4’ related video produced by us. This video has absolutely no connection to Ys Net. Furthermore, at this time, Ys Net has not released any trailers, footage or other promotional materials related to ‘Shenmue 4.’
We recognize that the unauthorized use of our logo, and any act that misleads viewers into believing such content is official, constitutes a serious issues that may amount to trademark infringement and unfair competition. W are currently working with relevant parties and preparing appropriate measures, including potential legal action.
We sincerely apologize to our fans and all related parties for any confusion this may have caused. We will continue to ensure the proper and accurate dissemination of information, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation.
Shenmue IV has never been announced by Ys Net, and creator Yu Suzuki told IGN back in November 2023 that if a fourth entry would be made, he would like to make it more accessible to attract a wider audience, noting that not everyone needs to know the full backstory. He had previously made comments about wanting to appeal to a larger audience with Shenmue IV in May 2020.
One thing we do know that’s happening is a re-release for Shenmue III, which is coming to PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S as Shenmue III Enhanced and features a number of improvements including 4K resolution, faster load times, enhanced visuals and more. Gameplay has also received a number of quality-of-life improvements, such as tweaks to stamina and health restoration.
The original Shenmue was released for the Sega Dreamcast back in 1999 in Japan and was localised for the US and European markets the following year.