There is probably no franchise fans have demanded more from than Yu Suzuki’s massively ambitious Shenmue.

Such an experiment was underway with mobile social game Shenmue City, but as with other projects involving Shenmue after the 2001 launch of Shenmue II, it hasn’t gone anywhere.

In the case of Shenmue City, at least the project got off the ground, but the official website brings word that Shenmue City is dead.

A short message on the website informs players services has ended, thanking them for their support.

Shenmue City was never launched in English, and was a sidestory set within the Yokosuka, where the first game took place. From the start, Suzuki never promised Shenmue City would provide fans with closure, but if the brand found new life, it seemed possible more Shenmue games might happen.

For a time, it looked like Shenmue might continue as an MMORPG with Shenmue Online, but it never materialized.

Perhaps it’s not much of a surprise Shenmue City is over and done, given the game was ostensibly rooted in social, and its own Twitter account hadn’t updated since August 11.

There is probably no franchise fans have demanded more from than Yu Suzuki’s massively ambitious Shenmue.

Such an experiment was underway with mobile social game Shenmue City, but as with other projects involving Shenmue after the 2001 launch of Shenmue II, it hasn’t gone anywhere.

In the case of Shenmue City, at least the project got off the ground, but the official website brings word that Shenmue City is dead.

A short message on the website informs players services has ended, thanking them for their support.

Shenmue City was never launched in English, and was a sidestory set within the Yokosuka, where the first game took place. From the start, Suzuki never promised Shenmue City would provide fans with closure, but if the brand found new life, it seemed possible more Shenmue games might happen.

For a time, it looked like Shenmue might continue as an MMORPG with Shenmue Online, but it never materialized.

Perhaps it’s not much of a surprise Shenmue City is over and done, given the game was ostensibly rooted in social, and its own Twitter account hadn’t updated since August 11.

They really expected it to come out after over a decade since 2?

But what about the sailors?

Shenmue II is one of my favorite games of all time. But I realize there probably won't ever be another Shenmue game. And if there is, it'll be completely different and won't be for a long time.

"the Yokusuka" -- nicely done.

Who cares, Shenmue is great but I don't need it in my life in 2012-.

Nooooooooooooooooo....

I'm surprised really that Sega has yet to return to Shenmue actually, Yakuza is a huge hit for them (in Japan), and really, its just crime based Shenmue...

"I need to avenge my father's death...right after I help this little kitty, operate a forklift at my part-time job, and collect all these shitty Virtua Fighter figurines from this machine."

I liked Shenmue and I even imported Shenmue II for the Dreamcast, but god were those games awful.

Never had a Dreamcast so I can't say I really care. Would check them out the original games if they were remade or re-released however.

@EuanDewar said:

I had no idea what the Shenmue franchise even was, but now I demand there be a third game.

Dayum shame...

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

@Klei said:

Seriously guys, get over this franchise. If they wanted to make a sequel, they would have. But for some reason, probably due to the lack of faith in the sales of the project, it probably won't happen. Shenmue 2 was an interesting game, but really, it should be left in the past. Just move on, people.

Go fuck yourself. You just don't understand anything.

And for the record, I'm still going to kick Lan Di's ass.

What kind of game was Shenmue City? I only played the original on DC.

@IAmNotBatman said:

Never had a Dreamcast .

Why not?

I'm pretty sure you can just drive a forklift in Farm Simulator...

They keep releasing mediocre Yakuza games when they could instead release an Epic finishing story of a shenmue game. My opinion ofc.

@kidman: My parents gave me a choice between PS1 and Dreamcast, needless to say which one I chose.

@EuanDewar said:

CANON. SATISFIED WITH LIFE.

Poor Shenmue. Such ambition, such promise. It was a game ahead of it's time.

It doesn't really hold up now, and it sucks that fans will never get to know what the fuck happens with those crazy dragon mirrors, but it did inspire other developers. It had an impact. That much is undeniable!

I've always like the Shenmue games. They're pretty badass. You're like a hired thug beating detective who macks on bitches and fucks up sailors. What could be better?

Hey Shenmue fans, just play Yakuza and get over it.

I played both on DC, even importing the second one from the UK. Had some serious nostalgia going on recently and bought the Xbox port of 2. I could hardly contain my excitement until I played it again, at which point the reality of how much games have improved since I was 20 came crashing down. It was kind of a bummer.

Sega should team up with Bioware and make "Shenmue" and all in one Shenmue experience from start to finish.Lan Di must die!

I would trade all the Uncharteds, Modern Warfares, Battlefields and Assasins Creed in the world for Shenmue 3 :(

@HarrySound: All sixteen chapters? Sold.

this is what happens when you don't keep the games inetia going for to long between the last game and the proposed 3 basically if you wait to long you kill your own franchise .

People still care about Shenmue? I thought it was irrelevant post-GTA3.

@Phazon said:

People still care about Shenmue? I thought it was irrelevant post-GTA3.

I don't know how you've come to the conclusion that a story focused game is irrelevant post GTA3, I guess that makes a lot of games irrelevant then.

Just because GTA3 did open world better doesn't mean anything, that wasn't why people liked Shenmue.

@Lurkero said:

Hey Shenmue fans, just play Yakuza and get over it.

already there :P i have all 4...but unfortunately 2 dont work.... no luck finding another copy yet though

@JohnPaulVann said:

@Klei said:

Seriously guys, get over this franchise. If they wanted to make a sequel, they would have. But for some reason, probably due to the lack of faith in the sales of the project, it probably won't happen. Shenmue 2 was an interesting game, but really, it should be left in the past. Just move on, people.

Go fuck yourself. You just don't understand anything.

That's real mature of you. Did you wait with baited breath for over a decade for Duke Nukem forever as well?

Oh well, it wasn't Shenmue III anyway. That is the only game I would've cared about. I was thinking about how awesome it would be if Bioware proper acquired it, but then I realized they would probably stick to Jade Empire if they wanted an asian themed rpg. It just sucks to experience an interesting franchise die before its time. I'm looking at you as well, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

@JohnPaulVann said:

@Klei said:

Seriously guys, get over this franchise. If they wanted to make a sequel, they would have. But for some reason, probably due to the lack of faith in the sales of the project, it probably won't happen. Shenmue 2 was an interesting game, but really, it should be left in the past. Just move on, people.

Go fuck yourself. You just don't understand anything.

I'm quoting this for how unreasonable upset and angered you are.

Looks like Ryo and Shenhua will be stuck in that cave forever :(

I really didn't have much hope; I've loved both 1 and 2, but this is a damn shame. :(

@shodan2020 said:

I really didn't have much hope; I've loved both 1 and 2, but this is a damn shame. :(

My sentiments exactly. It's really too bad.

@Klei: Nah, I think I'll just keep on passively hoping a miracle happens and we get some kind of closure. But thanks for the input, that was super neat. ;)

What? How can they do this to the beloved Shenmue(TM) franchise??!!

Why not release and HD version of Shemue 1 & 2 with chapter 2 made into game as a bonus incentive?

damn. some day...

THE DREAM WILL NEVER DIE!!!

i had a great time playing through shenmue when it was new. when shenmue 2 arrived, i was ready to recapture that experience, but the game only partially recaptured that same feeling as the original. i'm not surprised the spinoffs failed, but i'll be damned if i wouldn't sink my teeth into a proper third part in the trilogy. too bad it just looks more and more like it'll never happen (unless another developer takes the reins at some point).

This shouldn't surprise anyone. The series died the moment the Dreamcast did. Just like the Panzer Dragoon series died, the moment the Saturn did. Sure they release Shenmue II on another console, and they released a new Panzer Dragoon on another console, but that was done out of hope that these games would sell big. Both games didn't sell big, hence the end of both series.

It's about sells and cashing in. I personally would love a sequel to XIII, since I thought it was a great cell-shaded shooter, but because of low sells, I know that will likely never happen.

If they did make Shenmue 3, it would have to much more than just Shenmue 2 with modern graphics, it would have to have a lot more open and detailed world, much better combat, etc. As well as all the other things that would go along with modern games.

I played the first when I was in elementary school... Beat the game twice.

Played the second in highschool. It's actually a few of the games that I can't forget to this day. I played the yakuza series, but I don't think it can compare to shenmue. Shenmue was the most immersed I ever been to a video game.

Hopefully they make a shenmue 3 or a spiritual succesor to it. Not another Yakuza game please, it's getting old fast.

                   

@Klei said:

Seriously guys, get over this franchise. If they wanted to make a sequel, they would have. But for some reason, probably due to the lack of faith in the sales of the project, it probably won't happen. Shenmue 2 was an interesting game, but really, it should be left in the past. Just move on, people.

Go fuck yourself. You just don't understand anything.

                   

               

Can't say I'm surprised.....

@Klei said:

@JohnPaulVann said:

@Klei said:

Seriously guys, get over this franchise. If they wanted to make a sequel, they would have. But for some reason, probably due to the lack of faith in the sales of the project, it probably won't happen. Shenmue 2 was an interesting game, but really, it should be left in the past. Just move on, people.

Go fuck yourself. You just don't understand anything.

Oh wow. A touchy one. You mad, bro?

You asked for it. A lot of people hold this series in high regard, just telling them to "get over it" because you don't share their opinion is not going to change their minds.