Shenmue auteur Yu Suzuki and his studio Ys Net have announced Shenmue III Enhanced, a...well...enhanced re-release of Shenmue III that brings visual and gameplay improvements aplenty.
As spotted by Gematsu, Shenmue III Enhanced is slated for release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and "Nintendo" at some point in the future. No release date was revealed, and it's not specified whether "Nintendo" refers to both Switch 2 and the original Switch or just one of the two.
In any case, Shenmue III Enhanced will bring improved visuals and performance, complete with 4K textures, support for DLSS and FSR on PC, and increased NPC density to help Niaowu feel "more alive with more characters populating the streets".
It's not just the visuals getting some love, though. Ys Net is also promising gameplay tweaks, including a new "classic" camera mode that brings Shenmue III's gameplay perspective closer to that of its predecessors.
You can also look forward to stamina system adjustments, Ryo's health being restored before fights, and "reduced money barriers for smoother progression", as well as the opportunity to skip certain cutscenes and conversations.
All of the gameplay improvements promised by Shenmue III can be switched off if you want the original gameplay experience, though, so if you just want to enjoy the game with its new and improved visuals, you can do that as well.
If you missed out on Shenmue III the first time, it's the long-awaited sequel to 2001's Shenmue II. Launching eighteen years after that game, it continues the story of protagonist Ryo Hazuki, who's on the hunt for his father's murderer.
Many of Shenmue III Enhanced's additions have seemingly been introduced to combat much of the criticism of the original game, including its slow pace, gated money grinds, and frustrating combat.
If you want to check out Shenmue III before the enhanced version launches, you can do so right now on PC and PlayStation 4. You can remind yourself of what we thought of the game right here.
