Game creator Yu Suzuki and publisher ININ Games have announced Shenmue III Enhanced, a new version of the 2019 action-adventure game that introduces updated visuals, performance improvements, and gameplay refinements. The enhanced edition was unveiled on August 18 during Gamescom 2025 and will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and an unspecified Nintendo platform.
The release marks the first time Shenmue III will be available on Xbox Series consoles. Players who already own the game on PlayStation 4 or PC will be offered an upgrade path, with specific details yet to be confirmed.
According to ININ Games, the new edition will feature sharper textures, faster load times, and smoother overall performance. Support for upscaling technologies such as DLSS and FSR will be included on compatible hardware. The game’s main hub area, Niaowu, will also see increased non-playable character density, designed to make the environment feel more populated.
Several quality-of-life changes are planned. These include an optional stamina adjustment, automatic health recovery before combat, reduced financial barriers for progression, and expanded timing windows for quick-time events. Players will also be able to skip conversations and cutscenes, while new menu and user interface features are intended to streamline navigation.
A Classic Camera Mode will provide an alternative viewpoint inspired by Shenmue I and II, while the option to toggle many of the new systems allows players to retain the original gameplay style if preferred.
Shenmue III was originally developed by Ys Net, Suzuki’s independent studio, and released in 2019 following a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. The series, first introduced by Sega on the Dreamcast in 1999, has long been recognized for its open-world design and narrative-driven gameplay.
An exact release date for Shenmue III Enhanced has not yet been announced.
