A peculiar call for the development of Shenmue 4 has emerged from an unlikely source: Count Binface, a satirical political candidate known for wearing a bin on his head during UK elections. The comedian, whose real name is Jon Harvey, is currently challenging Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, in the Clacton by-election.
Shenmue fan group Shenmue Dojo commissioned a personalized video message from Count Binface via the Cameo platform. In the clip, the candidate, who presents himself as an "intergalactic space warrior," directly addressed Sega. "I need to say a galactic hello to Sega on behalf of the Shenmue fans," he stated, before urging the company to provide an update on Shenmue 4. He added, "They can’t leave you guys on another cliffhanger for years!"
Count Binface also humorously suggested that Sega might "need to be nationalized along with Adele" and reminisced about the possibility of rebooting SegaWorld in London's Trocadero. He concluded his message by encouraging fans to "make your votes Count!"
While Count Binface's intervention is unlikely to directly influence Sega's development decisions, it highlights the enduring passion of the Shenmue fanbase. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki expressed a desire to create a fourth game in 2023, hoping it would achieve a broader reception than Shenmue 3. As of now, however, there has been no official confirmation or concrete news regarding the future of the Shenmue series.