Shenmue III Enhanced (sort of) announced for Switch 2
Yu Suzuki and ININ Games have announced that Shenmue III Enhanced, an upgraded edition of the long-awaited 3rd entry in the Shenmue series, is headed to Nintendo Switch 2… sort of.
Technically, the press releases states that Shenmue III Enhanced is not coming to Nintendo Switch, but to a mysterious “Nintendo (TBC)” platform. However, unless ININ Games has gotten its hands on devkits for a yet-unannounced new Nintendo console, the game is definitely headed to Nintendo Switch 2 (a Nintendo Switch version is also possible, but it wouldn’t make sense not to simply announce it outright).
Shenmue III Enhanced will be revealed at gamescom 2025, which kicks off later this week in Cologne, Germany. It will feature the expected improvements: overhauled visuals, performance boosts, and even quality of life updates.
Here’s the list of key improvements:
- Enhanced Graphics & Performance – Sharper textures, richer details, faster load times, and smoother gameplay.
- 4K Texture Uplift – Refined, more detailed environments and characters.
- DLSS/FSR Support – High-quality upscaling without sacrificing performance (supported platforms only).
- Increased NPC Density – The city village Niaowu feels more alive with more characters populating the streets.
- Classic Camera Mode – An optional camera perspective inspired by Shenmue I & II, alongside the modern view.
- Gameplay Tweaks – Optional stamina system adjustments, health restoration before fights, and reduced money barriers for smoother progression.
- Improved Interactions – Cutscene and conversation skip options, expanded QTE timing window for more accessible gameplay.
- Menu & UX Enhancements – Streamlined navigation and helpful purchase alerts.
- Optionality First – All major changes can be toggled to preserve the original experience for purists.
Shenmue III Enhanced does not have a release date yet.
Source: ININ Games PR (18/08/2025)
