Shenmue 1 and 2 HD Remaster Releasing on August 21st

Sega’s HD remasters for Shenmue 1 and 2 finally have an official release date of August 21^st. As announced by Xbox Live director of programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb, the remasters are currently available for pre-order and pre-download on the Microsoft Store. Those on the West Coast who purchase the bundle will see it unlock on August 20^th, 9 PM PDT.

Interestingly, Sega itself hasn’t officially confirmed the release date. Regardless, Shenmue 1 and 2 HD Remaster costs $29.99 and will also be available for PlayStation 4 and PC. Despite featuring the same story and gameplay from the earlier Dreamcast versions, the remasters will sport a modern interface.

Players can also choose between classic or modern controls and even experience the game’s Japanese audio for the first time. In the meantime, creator Yu Suzuki is working on Shenmue 3, the long-awaited sequel in the franchise, for PS4 and PC. It’s been delayed to 2019 but development is still progressing steadily.