What follows is a mixture of phrases I by no means thought I’d write: Count Binface has known as on Sega to make Shenmue 4.
Okay, it will want a little bit of a proof. Count Binface is a man who is known within the UK for standing in native elections whereas sporting a trash can (we Brits name it a bin) on his head. He by no means wins; reasonably, his aim is to make the electoral course of look ridiculous, and he is fairly good at it. Count Binface standing unceremoniously within the background whereas votes are learn out for different candidates has a behavior of creating even probably the most honest of politicians look greater than a little foolish.
However Count Binface is probably extra well-known now than he’s ever been, and that’s as a result of he’s the only real challenger to right-wing chief of the Reform UK celebration and Donald trump chum, Nigel Farage, who not too long ago resigned as MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election by which he says he’ll stand. The resignation got here amid allegations about his private financing, which he continues to deny. Below growing strain, Farage took the excessive floor — or so he presumably thought — declaring that the “judges of my actions” ought to be his constituents.
Enter Count Binface, aka the comic Jon Harvey, who confirmed he’ll run within the Clacton by-election. His slogan: “’My enchantment is that I am not Nigel Farage.”
That is an election showdown for the ages, and Count Binface would possibly truly get some votes this time, as a result of rival events dismissed Farage’s actions as a stunt and stated they might sit out the election. So, sure, we’re set for Count Binface vs Nigel Farage, winner takes all (effectively, Clacton).
Okay. Nonetheless with me? Good. So, with Count Binface doing the rounds on tremendous severe information packages on the BBC and the like, he’s carved out the time to difficulty a particular message for Sega. Count Binface was commandeered by Shenmue fan group Shenmue Dojo, who used Cameo, a web site the place individuals pay celebrities for customized video messages, to get Farage’s political nemesis to difficulty a stunning name to motion.
“Hello, Count Binface right here, intergalactic area warrior and perhaps the subsequent MP for Clacton!” he says within the video.
“However, I’ve extra vital, urgent duties to do proper now, as a result of I would like to say a galactic hiya to Sega on behalf of the Shenmue followers. Now, I’m not simply saying hiya, Sega. I’ve received a little bone to choose with you as a result of the followers would really like to marketing campaign for an replace — from you, Sega — about Shenmue 4. Sure, they will’t depart you guys on one other cliffhanger for years! Sure, I wonder if Sega wants to be nationalized together with Adele?
“What do you say? We could harness the ability of the Shenmue to be sure that there is no such thing as a delay with updates ever once more? I’d fairly just like the sound of that. I’d fairly like to reboot SegaWorld in London’s Trocadero, and have previous Sonic the Hedgehog again in his prime. Oh, that will be great.
“However hey, I digress. The purpose is, the Shenmue followers are superb. Sega, you want to get your bottoms in gear, type yourselves out, get the replace completed.
“Whether you’re Sega or the Shenmue, an important factor after all is to observe me. And when everybody comes to vote, make your votes Count!”
🚨 BREAKING: @CountBinface has forged his vote for Shenmue and now he has a message for @SEGA_OFFICIAL @SEGA .
The marketing campaign continues. The individuals have spoken.(*4*) pic.twitter.com/dnBhyTCdUz
— Shenmue Dojo 🥋 (@Shenmue_Dojo) July 20, 2026
I significantly just like the drive-by request for the return of SegaWorld in Tracadero, which I used to frequent every so often throughout my teen years to play arcade video games. And Sonic returning to his prime? I think about the bosses at Sega wouldn’t agree with that sentiment.
Actually, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when the individuals on the prime of Sega catch wind of Count Binface’s video message, in the event that they ever do. I think there can be greater than a few confused faces.
As for Shenmue 4, regardless of the ability of Count Binface, it stays an unlikely challenge. As of now, it is unknown if a fourth main Shenmue recreation will ever get made, although the franchise’s followers actually hope it occurs. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki informed IGN in 2023 that he needed to create a fourth recreation in some unspecified time in the future. This, Suzuki hoped on the time, would win the sport a hotter reception throughout a wider set of platforms, after a middling response to Shenmue 3 on the recreation’s preliminary launch.
Actually? All of it feels like garbage to me.
Photograph by Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Photographs.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.