Shenmue III is getting an Enhanced edition, bringing the game to Xbox and Nintendo consoles for the first time.
Yu Suzuki’s game series will be available to a bigger audience. More specifically, Shenmue III is getting an Enhanced edition, bringing the game to Xbox and Nintendo consoles for the first time. Suzuki and publisher ININ Games proudly announced the exciting update ahead of Gamescom 2025. Owners of the original Shenmue III on PS4 and PC will be offered an upgrade path to the Enhanced Edition, with details coming soon.
Players will be able to continue Ryo Hazuki’s epic journey on next-gen consoles now! The upgraded edition of the acclaimed adventure was said to stay true to its roots while adding modern improvements. Suzuki and ININ Games noted Shenmue III’s Enhanced edition will feature overhauled visuals, performance boosts, and quality-of-life updates.
Here is a list of the key enhancements (provided via Shenmue Dojo):
- Enhanced Graphics & Performance – Sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay.
- 4K Texture Uplift – Refined, more detailed environments and characters.
- DLSS/FSR Support – High-quality upscaling without sacrificing performance(supported platforms only).
- Increased NPC Density – The city village Niaowu feels more alive with more characters populating the streets.
- Classic Camera Mode – An optional camera perspective inspired by Shenmue I & II, alongside the modern view.
- Gameplay Tweaks – Optional stamina system adjustments, health restoration before fights, and reduced money barriers for smoother progression.
- Improved Interactions – Cutscene and conversation skip options, expanded QTE timing window for more accessible gameplay.
- Menu & UX Enhancements – Streamlined navigation and helpful purchase alerts.
- Optionality First – All major changes can be toggled to preserve the original experience for purists.
Interestingly, neither Suzuki nor ININ Games specified whether Shenmue III will be out on the original Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. The only confirmed consoles were for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, along with PC. The long-awaited RPG sequel was released for PS4 and PC via the Epic Games Store in November 2019.
After the successful Kickstarter campaign to get Shenmue III going, Suzuki mentioned bringing Shenmue IV to newer players. “I want Shenmue 4 to be enjoyable for newcomers,” he said. “To make that possible, the most important thing is to make it enjoyable without knowing previous events in the story. I don’t think that a new player wants to know 100% of the story. 20 or 30% could be enough.”
