Shenmue fans are a uniquely dedicated bunch. After waiting 18 years for a sequel in Shenmue 3 (which sadly failed to set the world on fire), it seems there's still a significant demand for another game in the action adventure series, evidenced by the massive billboard ad shown in New York's heavily trafficked Times Squares, and the resulting community response.
Spotted by IGN, the ad was the work of fan website Shenmue Dojo, which launched a campaign on 4th June, rallying around the hashtag "#LetsGetShenmue4". The group's stated goal is to: "Support the continuation of the series and attempt to spread global awareness to find [developer] Ys Net a potential partner for Shenmue 4."
Part of this campaign included renting a 15-second advertisement in Times Square, which we were shocked to learn can cost as little as $40. It's certainly an unusual extent for a fanbase to go to, but it managed to make the associated hashtag trend on Twitter, something we hope SEGA took note of. The whole affair began after series creator Yu Suzuki told Shenmue Dojo that he'd potentially be up for making another Shenmue if a publishing partner could be found to fund it.
