If you saw the Shenmue 4 trailer that went viral recently and were hoping it was leading to an announcement, then you’re going to be disappointed. Ys Net, the studio founded by Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki, has issued a statement condemning the trailer as a fake while also hinting that it may take legal action against the trailer’s creator.
In a post on social media, Ys Net said the fake Shenmue 4 trailer “uses our company logo without permission, falsely giving the impression that is an official Shenmue 4 related video produced by us.” The statement adds that there have been no official Shenmue 4 materials released, and that the studio is “currently working with relevant parties and preparing appropriate measures, including potential legal action” against the creator of the trailer.
— YS NET Inc. (@YSNET_Inc) December 8, 2025
The original Shenmue was released in 1999 on Sega Dreamcast, and it cast players as a young man, Ryo Hazuki, as he sought to avenge his father’s death. The game had innovative takes on open-world gameplay and quicktime events that proved to be very influential in the video game industry. Shenmue 2 followed in 2001, but the franchise went on hiatus due to low sales.
