‘Shenmue III’ ends Kickstarter campaign with over $7 million raised

By Aaron Mamiit November 24, 2018

The Kickstarter campaign of the long-awaited Shenmue III has officially ended, raising more than $7 million from over 80,000 backers.

Shenmue III‘s original Kickstarter campaign, which ended in July 2015, raised $6.33 million. At the time, it held the record as the highest-funded video game on the crowdfunding platform. However, developer Ys Net decided to give fans a second chance to support the project in the form of a Slacker Backer campaign.

Recommended Videos

The Shenmue III campaign is now closed, with final numbers of a funding total of $7,179,510 from 81,087 backers. In an update on the Kickstarter website, Ys Net declared it as an “impressive” haul for the crowdfunding drive.

“Seeing the final numbers, all of us here can’t help but feel all over again the immensity of the support everyone has given to make this project come true! Thank you!” Ys Net said on the campaign’s update 93.

Backers who pledged at least $29 will receive a digital copy of Shenmue III for the PC or PlayStation 4, while those who pledged $60 or more will instead receive a physical copy of the game in an exclusive backer-only case. The pledge tiers went as high as $10,000, with backers being promised rewards such as the original jacket worn by Masaya Matsukaze, the actor who plays series protagonist Ryo Hazuki, in the press events for Shenmue 14 years ago; dinner with project director and producer Yu Suzuki; and becoming an NPC in Shenmue III.

In update 93, Ys Net also said that there are less than 10 months left until the Shenmue III release date of August 27, 2019, which means that the project is on track for its target launch. The estimated delivery window for Shenmue III is still listed as December 2017 on the Kickstarter page, but the release date was pushed back into mid-2019 earlier this year.

Shenmue III will follow 1999’s Shenmue and 2001’s Shenmue II, which were both originally released for the Sega Dreamcast. Gamers who would like to follow or relive the adventures of Ryo before the arrival of Shenmue III may do so on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, as the first two games in the series were re-released into the current-generation platforms this year.

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…

Gaming

How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

You're given a good bit of leeway during battles in Baldur's Gate 3 before you or a companion actually bites the dust for good. While in battle, if a teammate does take enough damage to drop, they aren't dead then and there. Instead, they will be downed with a chance to roll every turn to get back up. If they roll successfully three times, the battle ends, or you use another character to pick them up, they're good. If they fail that roll three times, however, they will be completely dead. That can be harsh when you've become attached to certain characters and want to further their stories, so you'll be looking for any way you can to bring them back. Thankfully you do have a few options for reviving companions in Baldur's Gate 3, but just like respeccing, they aren't so obvious.
Pay Withers to bring them back

Withers is a friendly undead you can find in a secret room in the Dank Crypt found inside the Overgrown Ruins. After finding and speaking to him in his sarcophagus, he will offer you various services, one of which is bringing back any dead companions. He won't do this out of the kindness of his heart (probably because it isn't beating) and will charge you a heavy fine of 200 gold to do so. Still, that's a small price to pay to bring back a beloved character. Once paid, that character will appear in your camp where they would normally be, so there's no need to go back to their corpse and find them.
Use a scroll of Revivfy or learn it

Gaming

Every video game delay that has happened in 2023 so far

The player skates toward the moon in Skate Story.

Few things feel as inevitable in the video game industry as delays. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, game delays have only become more and more common as developers find previously set timelines unrealistic and adjust their release plans accordingly. More than halfway through 2023, we've already seen some notable AAA games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Skull & Bones, and Pragmata delayed pretty heavily. Because video game release date delays are so common, it can be tough to keep track of every game that has had its launch date shifted in some way.
That's why, just as we did in 2021 and 2022, Digital Trends is rounding up every game delay that's announced throughout 2023. Here are the high-profile ones that have happened so far, listed chronologically by their new intended release dates.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR (March 16)

As Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is one of the best games for PlayStation VR, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, Supermassive Games' PlayStation VR2 successor, is a highly anticipated launch title for the upcoming VR headset. Unfortunately, it will no longer make PlayStation VR2's February 22 launch and will instead be released on March 16. On Twitter, a message from Supermassive Games says this delay will ensure that players "receive the most polished, terrifying experience possible" at release. The game was released on that date to mixed reviews.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (March 24)

Gaming

Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?

Three characters shoot at a boss in Remnant 2.

Aside from the focus on firearms and integrating some randomly generated environments, the Remnant series sets itself apart from other souls-like games mainly with its focus on co-op. Both titles encourage you to team up with two friends to fight your way through the mutated monsters that await. After so many years of progress in terms of multiplatform games incorporating full cross-platform support, you might assume Remnant 2 will follow suit and let you make a group with anyone regardless of what platform they're on. However, the truth may be a bit more disappointing. Before you make plans with your squad, here's what you need to know about Remnant 2's cross-platform support.
Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?

Unfortunately, Remnant 2 does not have cross-platform play between PS5, Xbox Series X or PC -- and there's no word about it being added in the future.