Shenmue 4 Video ‘Has Absolutely No Connection’ to Developer Ys Net, and Now the Studio Is Threatening Legal Action as the Footage ‘Misleads Viewers Into Believing Such Content Is Official’

Just last month, IGN reported on the increasingly convincing AI-generated GTA 6 “leaks” that are racking up millions of views on social media, as many users simply take what they see at face value.

While generative AI and deepfake technology are nothing new, the past few months have seen a fresh generation of tools such as Sora 2 and Google’s Nano Banana Pro pump out generated content that’s now increasingly difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Last week’s Shenmue 4 video is, seemingly, yet another example of this.

“Ys Net Inc. has confirmed that a video has been posted on social media which uses our company logo without permission, falsely giving the impression that it is an an official ‘Shenmue 4’ related video produced by us,” the company wrote. “This video has absolutely no connection to Ys Net. Furthermore, at this time, Ys Net has not released any trailers, footage or other promotional materials related to ‘Shenmue 4.’

“We recognize that the unauthorized use of our logo, and any act that misleads viewers into believing such content is official, constitutes a serious issues that may amount to trademark infringement and unfair competition. W are currently working with relevant parties and preparing appropriate measures, including potential legal action.

“We sincerely apologize to our fans and all related parties for any confusion this may have caused. We will continue to ensure the proper and accurate dissemination of information, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation.”

Shenmue 3 Screenshots