Update:
In a separate comment, Rice Digital’s reporter has offered some clarification on the article’s wording, particularly the part about release platforms. What the writer meant was that the source has refused to specify publisher or exact platforms but a PC release will be in the cards. Additionally, we’re told that work on the remasters is almost completed.
Original story:
Early in January this year, SEGA registered domain names that suggested we’ll see Shenmue I and II HD remasters at some point. Now, UK blog and online retailer Rice Digital reports that the remasters will be out in 2017.
According to Gematsu, the report’s author has been behind some accurate leaks in the past including the news of Atlus publishing The King of Fighters XIV in the West a few days before it was officially announced. Rice Digital says it got a hold of the info via a trusted source close to Atlus.
“Both games, Episodes I & II, may be released together rather than separately,” reads the post. “They are presumably being geared up for launch to precede Shenmue III, which could possibly slip into 2018.”
Interestingly, we’re told to safely assume that the remasters will land on PC/Steam and that there has been “no indication” of the games releasing on any other platform.
The latter part of the report, if true, will be disappointing for some PlayStation 4 players who were hoping to jump into the previous titles before picking up Shenmue III.
We’ll update our readers when we have more info or if an official announcement is made.
[Source: Rice Digital via Gematsu]