Creator Yu Suzuki and Inin Games have announced that an enhanced edition of Shenmue III is on the way for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, and Nintendo consoles. Unveiled at Gamescom 2025, Shenmue III Enhanced is slated to introduce modern improvements to the adventure, including overhauled visuals, performance boosts, and some quality-of-life updates.
The game is expected to have a 4K texture uplift alongside sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay. There will be high-quality upscaling, increased NPC density, a classic camera mode harkening back to the franchise’s previous installments, and optional stamina system adjustments, health restoration before fights, and a streamlined menu and UI. Expect reduced money barriers for smoother progression, a revamped stamina system, and health restoration before fights. Lastly, the ability to skip conversations and cutscenes will be implemented alongside expanded QTE interactions. However, if you’re a purist and don’t like any of these changes, they can mostly be toggled off to preserve the original experience for purists.
Of course, there’s no footage or imagery to highlight these improvements, so for now, fans are just going to have to wait and see. Those who already own a copy of the original Shenmue III will be able to access an upgrade path to the enhanced edition.
At this stage, there’s no release date or window for when we can expect this re-release. Curiously, the game lists Nintendo as a platform, but doesn’t specify if it will be available on the Switch, Switch 2, or both handheld consoles; so that’s something to stay tuned for as well. On PC, however, the title will be available on Steam and Epic Games Store.
For those who don’t know, Shenmue was originally released for the Sega Dreamcast on December 29, 1999, and follows teen martial artist Ryo Hazuki as he travels through 1980s Japan and China in pursuit of his father’s killer. The third installment of the franchise, released in 2019, sees Ryo still on his quest, but this time in Guilin, China, teaming up with Ling Shenhuam who is looking for her missing father.
