Skip to main content

Shenmue 3 backers getting on-disc option for PlayStation 4 version

shenmue 3 slacker backer campaign ryo header
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Digital releases of games might be getting more popular, but there are always going to be people who prefer having something they can actually put their hands on, especially when the game in question is something that fans have been waiting on for years.

Until now, there have been three options for how Shenmue 3 backers at the $60 level would receive their copy of the game once it is finished: a physical disc for the PC version of the game, or digital copies for either the PC or PlayStation 4 versions.

On Friday, another option was announced to backers in an update on the game’s Kickstarter page. The PlayStation 4 Physical Copy Reward is now available to backers at the $60 level, alongside the previous three options.

Once the Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue 3 is completed, a survey will be sent to backers, letting them choose how they would like to receive their copy of the game. “Backers who have pledged for a PC Physical Copy will not need to adjust their rewards if they would prefer a PS4 physical copy instead,” the update reads.

Currently, the Shenmue 3 campaign is supported by over 50,000 backers who have pledged more than $4.3 million so far. There are still 11 days left to back the campaign, which will wrap up on July 17.

While the amount the game has raised so far is nothing to sneeze at, it hasn’t reached the $10 million mark that Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki has said is necessary to fulfill his full vision for the game, including A “much larger, completely open world.” The campaign is nearing the $5 million mark, at which point a “completely new gameplay feature” will be added.

No matter how much funding the project secures, it’s beginning to look like Shenmue 3 will be a return to form. Last week we reported that Corey Marshall, who voiced the main character Ryo Hazuki in the North American and European versions of the original games, has signed on to lend his voice to Shenmue 3.

Editors' Recommendations

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
PlayStation spent 2023 setting up dominoes. But will they fall in 2024?
A PS5 sits on a table.

2023 has already become a strong contender for the best year in gaming ever (at least when it comes to newly released games), but we've yet to see how it'll be remembered for PlayStation long-term. It currently stands as an experimental year filled with massive gambles that we won't see the results of until 2024 at the earliest.

From an outside perspective, 2023 might've seemed like PlayStation was resting on its laurels. With more hit third-party releases than most people could reasonably handle hitting on a near monthly cadence, the average PlayStation fan was likely content with "just" the utterly fantastic Marvel's Spider-Man 2 from the first-party side. In reality, this year Sony has set up a series of dominoes that, depending on how they fall, could very well determine its future -- for better or worse. Even though a few of its efforts are trending in the wrong direction, or at least have the community concerned, there's no turning the ship now.
Heavy on hardware
Sony put out more hardware this year than perhaps any other year in its history. We started off with the PlayStation VR2, got the surprise slim models of the PS5, the PlayStation Portal most recently, and will close out the year with its impressive Adaptive Controller. Of those, PSVR2 is the largest dice roll the company is currently watching play out. VR, in general, still only caters to a niche audience, and for as powerful and cutting-edge as the tech inside Sony's headset really is, that small audience is automatically cut by being tied to the PS5 install base willing to pay another massive entry fee. Despite all the cards stacked against it, Sony could pull an ace from its sleeve to justify the entire experiment: first-party games.

Read more
Here’s how to get your PlayStation 2023 wrap-up
The PlayStation wrap up logo.

Every year, PlayStation lets you take a look back at your year of gaming on its platform. You'll get stats like number of hours played, top played games, trophies earned, and more. While you are free to get your stats right now, they will continue to be updated until January 12, 2024, so you can get the full picture of your year. What's new this time around is the addition of digital cards you can view and share with your friends that highlight some of your most impressive stats, as well as a free avatar and PlayStation Stars digital collectible. Here's how to get yours today.
Your PlayStation 2023 wrap-up

To get your own personalized PlayStation wrap-up, simply head to Sony's wrapup web page and sign in to your PlayStation Network account. If you would prefer, you can also opt to use this link to have Sony email you a breakdown directly. In either case, you may have to be patient when trying to access your stats since it seems like the servers are having trouble keeping up with the number of people attempting to access it at once.

Read more
PlayStation Plus is the perfect stocking stuffer for RPG fans this year
Yuffie holding three materia in FF7 Remake Intergrade.

I thought I had my fill of gaming subscription services. PlayStation Plus's price increase turned me off and the offerings of Xbox Game Pass never fit my fancy. While both of these have their positives, I've never been one to just drop so much money every month for a bunch of games I don't really care about. That was until I jumped into my yearly Christmas-time RPG mood and discovered the bounty of classics that's built up on PS Plus.

The First 11 Minutes of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade Gameplay - 60 FPS Performance Mode

Read more