A recently circulated teaser for Shenmue 4 turned out to be unofficial, and Ys Net has announced that legal steps may follow against the uploader.
In a social post, the studio clarified that last week’s four-plus-minute trailer bears no affiliation with Ys Net. Its use of the company’s logo was unauthorized, which the team says created a false impression that the clip was the official Shenmue 4 trailer produced by them.
Ys Net emphasized that the unauthorised use of its logo and the deception of viewers into thinking the content is official could constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition. The company is currently coordinating with relevant parties to determine appropriate actions, including potential legal remedies.
Although Ys Net does not own the Shenmue IP—the rights belong to Sega—the studio apologized to fans for the confusion the trailer caused. Admittedly, the episode likely raised more than a few hopes; fans previously even rented a Times Square billboard in New York to campaign for a fourth entry (as reported by Eurogamer).
The statement concluded by promising continued efforts to ensure accurate information flows and asking for community understanding and cooperation.
As for the trailer itself, it follows Shenmue’s protagonist, Ryo, taking on a mix of everyday town jobs—such as washing dishes and arm wrestling. From the outset, many viewers doubted its authenticity, given its origins from an obscure YouTube channel with a small follower base.
Shenmue 3’s 2019 release revived the series. In Eurogamer’s retrospective, former editor Martin Robinson described it as a captivating time capsule that transports players to late-1980s China and the early era of console RPGs.
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