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Does Microsoft still have the exclusive rights for Shenmue 2 in the US?

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dancrane212

Member
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With talk of an HD remaster of the first two Shenmue games starting to pick up now that the kickstarter ended for 3 is finished I was reminded of how Shenmue 2 only released on the original Xbox over here and was curious about that exclusivity deal. Just looking at online sources I was only able to find the following blurb that had any real details.

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft has secured the rights to market, sell, and distribute the only version of Shenmue II for the US market. The game will not be released on the Sega Dreamcast.
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I did some searching around to see if there were any more detailed comments about the longevity of that deal but no luck. There was the rumor about the two games having completed HS ports done back in 2012 but that seems to have been a misunderstanding. I would have figured the deal would have had an expiration date but I can't recall any of the exclusive SEGA games other than the two Sonic Adventure eventually making it to other platforms last gen and some of the Arcade -> Xbox ports coming over as well.

I suppose those two Sonic games actually did perform well enough to warrant a remaster unlike all the other exclusive games so it could be SEGA just had the option but never took advantage of it for those original Xbox titles. Anyone have any info on this? Is SEGA able to port (and just has no interest in) Shenmue 2 and/or their other exclusive Xbox game to other platforms?
 
In a time where digital and region free is a thing, pretty sure that died.

If anything import / donwload EU version.
 
dancrane212 said:
IP ownership and distribution rights for a specific region aren't the same thing. Remedy owns Alan Wake series but Microsoft owns the publishing rights for that first game.
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Even the PC version? Remedy seems to be self publishing the PC version on gog.com
 
The rumor is that Sega does not know the legal status of some of the third party libraries used in Shenmue 1&2. They would risk a lawsuit if they released ports without getting permission first. It's just a rumor though so the truth is we really have no idea. I think regardless of the reason for no ports up to this point, Sega now has all the incentives in the world to make it happen now.
 
brett2 said:
The rumor is that Sega does not know the legal status of some of the third party libraries used in Shenmue 1&2. They would risk a lawsuit if they released ports without getting permission first. It's just a rumor though so the truth is we really have no idea. I think regardless of the reason for no ports up to this point, Sega now has all the incentives in the world to make it happen now.
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Sure but I'm saying there is a chance Microsoft still has the exclusive rights for that second game in the US which could add another complication. How that works in a world where region free systems are, mostly, the norm like Slayhe pointed out would be interesting to see.
 
dancrane212 said:
Sure but I'm saying there is a chance Microsoft still has the exclusive rights for that second game in the US which could add another complication. How that works in a world where region free systems are, mostly, the norm like Slayhe pointed out would be interesting to see.
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That shouldn't prevent Sega from releasing the Remaster in Asia or EU though. I think it's more of the fact that Shenmue 2 lost them a ton of money and they're hesitant to pull the trigger on green-lighting a Remaster.
 
Other games MS moneyhatted like Strangers wrath and Ninja Gaiden came to other platforms eventually but non of the Sega games from that era ever did. (Shenmue 2, JSFR)

I dunno whats up there but my guess is MS dont own any long term rights for it since technically Sega was the publisher.


I guess with Shenmue 3 now a thing that HD remasters are totally being looked at by Sega and Sony though and if its possible it will happen.
 
funkystudent said:
Other games MS moneyhatted like Strangers wrath and Ninja Gaiden came to other platforms eventually but non of the Sega games from that era ever did. (Shenmue 2, JSFR)

I dunno whats up there but my guess is MS dont own any long term rights for it since technically Sega was the publisher.


I guess with Shenmue 3 now a thing that HD remasters are totally being looked at by Sega and Sony though and if its possible it will happen.
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Shenmue 2 was published by Microsoft on the Xbox. I think that was the only game from that partnership that Sega didn't publish (maybe Phantasy Star on Xbox too).

jacks81x said:
That shouldn't prevent Sega from releasing the Remaster in Asia or EU though. I think it's more of the fact that Shenmue 2 lost them a ton of money and they're hesitant to pull the trigger on green-lighting a Remaster.
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For sure it wouldn't for those regions and hopefully if Sega was going forward with a collection they would work something out. Not being able to officially put it out there could make it harder to justify making a collection.
 
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