The perpetrator behind the current viral however very a lot faux Shenmue 4 trailer has apologized for creating false AI footage of the franchise’s fictional fourth recreation.
In a put up on fan discussion board ShenmueDojo, the creator, beneath the alias “JustAFan1,” issued an apology for deceptive the web — simply days after Shenmue developer Ys Web launched its personal assertion that slammed the video for elevating fan hopes and revealed it was now exploring authorized motion.
Of their statement, JustAFan1 defined that they’d made the video not “out of malice, however love for Shenmue.” Certainly, their assertion ends with the suggestion that “all of the media consideration this has acquired will do one thing to persuade buyers” that Shenmue 4 ought to be made.
“I simply needed to set the report straight for all those that assume it’d nonetheless be half actual,” JustAFan1 wrote. “It’s not.
“I do know many of you want to grasp me for dashing your hopes, however know this was not finished out of malice, however love for Shenmue. I notice I went about it the fallacious approach, and I apologize for that. However I hope all of the media consideration this has acquired will do one thing to persuade buyers that Shenmue may be very a lot alive and worthwhile if approached accurately.”
As proof that they have been the creator of the video, JustAFan1 posted a hyperlink to a brand new model of the trailer with extra music and photographs, together with a lengthier apology assertion in each English and Japanese.
“I would like to be completely clear: I’m merely a fan of the collection and have completely no skilled or private affiliation with Ys Web, nor have I ever had any,” this assertion reads. “The creation and launch of the trailer, which offered itself as an official piece of promotional materials recorded behind the scenes, was a lapse in judgment. I take full accountability for this motion.”
JustAFan1’s assertion continues by confirming that the faux trailer’s story parts have been made utilizing publicly out there lore and customary fan theories about the place the Shenmue collection may progress in future, with nothing that particularly mirrored any actual improvement that will or might not be underway inside Ys Web.
“Whereas my intent was centered on a constructive end result, the strategy I selected to obtain it was deceptive and unprofessional. I deeply remorse creating and sharing data that was not factual, and I perceive the detrimental influence this misinformation had.
“The only real objective behind creating the ‘Shenmue 4’ trailer was to exhibit the sustained and substantial market demand and group enthusiasm for this beloved collection,” the video assertion concludes. “I meant no hurt to Ys Web, its model, or its loyal followers. My motivation was to champion the collection and assist encourage its continuation, not to mislead or create misery.”
Response to the assertion has been largely supportive, with many agreeing that the trailer had created contemporary buzz for the franchise amid hope for affirmation of a brand new recreation.
“Nah, you are good,” fan hyo_razuki replied. “I knew it was faux from the start nevertheless it was enjoyable and also you generated some enthusiasm for Shenmue, so no biggie, no want to apologize.”
As of now, it is unknown if a fourth main Shenmue recreation will ever get made, although the franchise’s followers definitely hope it occurs. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki informed IGN in 2023 that he needed to create a fourth recreation sooner or later, although he’s presently nonetheless engaged on an enhanced model of Shenmue 3. This, Suzuki hopes, will 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.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You can attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social