Sony's Gio Corsi Discussed Potential for a Shenmue HD Release
PlayStation's Director of Third Party Production, Gio Corsi, commented on a potential Shenmue HD release, citing hurdles and his team's past successes.
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Fan Hopes and Official Comments
Gio Corsi, then Director of Third Party Production for PlayStation, made several comments regarding a potential Shenmue HD release at a PlayStation Experience event. Speaking with series fan Matthew Kilpatrick, Corsi stated that he was paying close attention to the numerous requests for an updated version of the classic Sega game. He encouraged fans to not give up on the idea, highlighting the effort it took to bring another Sega title to the West. Corsi noted that it took Sony a full year to convince Sega to release the previously Japan-exclusive Yakuza 5 in English, presenting it as an example of persistence.
Corsi’s interest in the series was not purely professional. He is a fan of Shenmue and reportedly keeps a statue of protagonist Ryo Hazuki driving a forklift in his office. He also told another fan, who posted about the encounter on the NeoGAF forums, that a Shenmue HD release was his “number one” personal request. This gave supporters hope, as Corsi’s team had a history of successfully championing niche, fan-favorite titles. The Third Party Production group was instrumental in bringing the PSOne RPG Suikoden 2 to the PlayStation Network and was the driving force behind the Yakuza 5 localization.
Obstacles to a Rerelease
Despite his personal enthusiasm and his team’s track record, Corsi acknowledged that there were “several issues” holding back a potential Shenmue HD project. He did not elaborate on the specific nature of these problems, but other reports provided some context on the challenges involved.
A separate poster on NeoGAF had previously indicated that a working prototype of Shenmue was developed for the Xbox 360. According to the user, this HD version never moved beyond the prototype phase due to significant hurdles. The primary obstacle was said to be legal issues surrounding the licensing of the original game engine for use on modern platforms. Another contributing factor was reportedly the lackluster sales of other Sega rereleases from that era. The commercial performance of HD versions of Jet Set Radio and Nights into Dreams… apparently made Sega hesitant to invest further in porting its back catalog. The compilation of reports from attendees at the PlayStation Experience event was credited to the Shenmue Dojo Community Forum.
Frequently asked questions
What did Sony's Gio Corsi say about a potential Shenmue HD?
At a PlayStation Experience event, Gio Corsi confirmed he was aware of fan requests for a Shenmue HD release. He encouraged fans not to give up, comparing the situation to the year-long effort it took to convince Sega to localize Yakuza 5 for Western markets.
Why was a Shenmue HD rerelease reportedly difficult to make?
According to reports, a previous Shenmue HD prototype for Xbox 360 was stalled by several issues. These included legal complications with licensing the original game engine and disappointing sales figures from other Sega HD remasters like Jet Set Radio and Nights.
Who was Gio Corsi at PlayStation?
Gio Corsi was the Director of Third Party Production for PlayStation. His team was known for working with external developers and publishers to bring games to PlayStation platforms, famously helping with the Western releases of Yakuza 5 and Suikoden 2 on PSN.
Was Gio Corsi a fan of Shenmue?
Yes, Gio Corsi was a vocal fan of the series. He reportedly told fans that a Shenmue HD release was his number one personal request and that he kept a statue of the main character, Ryo Hazuki, driving a forklift in his office.