Shenmue 3 Refunds Are Limited-Time Only

Things have been rocky for the long-in-development Shenmue III, and developer Ys Net revealing the action-adventure game’s Epic Games Store exclusivity has not sit well with Kickstarter backers expecting Steam keys. While Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed that refunds will happen, the process seems confusing and only lasts for a limited time.

Ys Net published an update on Shenmue III’s Kickstarter page, revealing the steps necessary for backers to receive an alternative package or a total refund. Sometime in mid-September–Ys Net did not specify when–backers will get emails from video game collectible site Fangamer notifying them of their current selected version of Shenmue III. These emails will contain surveys for those who want to amend the version they’ve chosen. The survey period only lasts two weeks from the time backers receive the Fangamer email.

From then things get a little messy. Ys Net explains that refunds “may take up to 20 business days to 3 months from the time the refund request is made until the refund transaction is completed.” This means backers could be waiting anywhere from 3-4 months for refunds to process and finalize.

Ys Net apologized for the complications backers have to go through to process refunds saying the length of Shenmue III’s development, plus the complexities of transactions and payment arrangements, may impact the “processing times [for] individual transaction circumstances.” Further, altering in-game rewards is “difficult at this stage of development,” Ys Net said.

Ys Net is planning a trial version for Shenmue III, though It’s unclear if the trial is exclusive to PC. It will release in the second half of September–Ys Net did not specify a date as of yet–and is playable for one hour. Ys Net said the trial will feature a stand-alone act within the game’s first area and there are “lots of activities to experience” in that hour of game time. Saves will not carry over to the final versions when Shenmue III launches on November 19 for PC and PlayStation 4.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shenmue-3-refunds-are-limited-time-only/1100-6469727/