X

Shenmue 3 for PlayStation 4 hurtles toward its $2 million Kickstarter goal

Sixteen years after it first debuted, the third installment of the Shenmue 3D adventure game is nigh -- if backers want it badly enough. Based on its rapid Kickstarter backing, it's evident they do.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
See full bio
Jessica Dolcourt

shenmue3kickstarter.jpg
Officially launched at E3 2015, Shenmue 3 embarked on a blazing Kickstarter campaign. Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

What is turning out to be one of the most-quickly funded Kickstarter campaigns, supporters of Shenmue 3 for PlayStation 4 stampeded to Kickstarter on Monday in an effort to back the franchise's third installment.

After playing the trailer at Sony's keynote presentation at Los Angeles' E3 gaming convention, legendary Japanese game designer Yu Suzuki's, the title's designer, took to the stage to launch the $2 million Kickstarter goal, the sum to ready Shenmue 3 for the PlayStation console.

Garnering $100,000 in roughly the first 15 minutes, $250,000 by the 23-minute mark and $500,000 -- a quarter of the requirement in about 40 minutes -- Shenmue 3 is well on the way toward reaching its goal. As of 8:21pm PT, Suzuki's project has pocketed $932,023 from 10,761 backers about an hour and a half after launching. And the numbers keep climbing.

If Shenmue 3 keeps up its rapid fundraising pace, the gaming title is on track to become one of the most quickly funded crowdsourced projects ever, along with the Pebble Time smartwatch.

The Kickstarter campaign represents the Shenmue franchise's first appearance on Sony's console. The original title played on Dreamcast, followed by Shenmue 2 for Dreamcast and Xbox.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2015 on CNET and GameSpot.