Shenmue 3 footage due 'early in the new year', PC pre-orders begin on Thursday

As a Dreamcast devotee in my younger years, I've had to pinch myself a few times during Shenmue 3's post-Kickstarter development. I sometimes can't believe it's actually happening, you see, thus it's always reassuring when series creator Yu Suzuki pops up with with tangible updates—the latest of which features in this week's Weekly Famitsu. 

As translated by the kind folks at Gematsu, Yu Suzuki discusses Shenmue 3's development so far and its direction into 2017. "Development is entering the final stage headed towards full-scale production," he says. "Early in the new year, I think we’ll be able to show you things such as new videos. We will continue progressing with development so that our backers and those who experience the world of Shenmue for the first time can do so with pleasure."

Yu Suzuki adds: "Also, at noon on December 15, we will start pre-order sales for the PC version of Shenmue III, which received a lot of requests."

While I'd always advise against pre-ordering games—why not wait on the off-chance said game doesn't match your expectations?—I am looking forward to some proper footage of an actual working Shenmue 3 in the new year. I'm well aware nostalgia is a big driving factor for me, but I'm nevertheless cautiously optimistic it'll deliver. 

Tim, on the other hand, isn't so understanding of the hype, which is why I'd like to turn this over to you guys—can Shenmue possibly be as good as I think it will be my head? Let me know in the comments south of here.

According to its Kickstarter campaign page, Shenmue 3's full release is expected in December, 2017.

Deputy Editor, PC Gaming Show
Latest in Adventure
Image of illuminated manuscript-style drawings from the game Pentiment.
Random characters kept swearing in Obsidian's font-obsessed murder-mystery when its procedural error system ran amok: 'Naughtiness abounded'
An image of a corpse with the text "You've been re-educated."
I played the lost videogame sequel to 1984, and came away more nostalgic than ever for gaming's awkward adolescence in 1999
Rosella encounters a satyr in a forest in King's Quest 4
Eagle-eyed streamer spots that Roberta Williams' portrait in King's Quest 4 is based on her author photo on the back of the game box: 'I never noticed it before.'
Myst puzzle game
'You’ve been asking, and we’ve been listening': Myst remake adds a whole new world to the classic adventure, one originally introduced in another overhaul from 25 years ago
The character takes a test in a school room.
Expelled! review
Max, protagonist of Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Double Exposure, stares with trepidation at something off-screen with her friend.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure reportedly a 'large loss' for Square Enix, says analyst, who adds: 'The company's IP fundamentally varies too much between good and bad'
Latest in News
Two brightly colored stormtroopers dressed like Run-DMC stand in front of PAX Australia's WELCOME HOME banner.
Tickets for PAX Australia 2025 are on sale now
An Enshrouded player in a recreation of Erebor from The Lord of the Rings
Kings under the Mountain! 33 Enshrouded players spent 10,000 hours to recreate this iconic location from The Lord of the Rings
A mech awakens.
Mecha Break developer is considering unlocking all mechs following open beta feedback
Lara Croft Unified Art
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees 'to better align our current business needs and the studio's future success'
A long bendy arm stealing money from people in a subway car
'You're a very long arm. You steal things. It's a comedy game,' explains developer of comedy game where you steal things with a very long arm
The heroes are attacked by monsters
Pillars of Eternity is getting turn-based combat to mark its 10th anniversary, and that means PC Gamer editors will soon be arguing about combat mechanics again