Count Binface Is Campaigning for Shenmue 4 and a Revived Sega Arcade

Count Binface — the self-described independent space warrior running for MP in Clacton-on-Sea — has made Shenmue 4 and the resurrection of London's old SegaWorld arcade part of his pitch to voters. The video, shared by fansite Shenmue Dojo, is almost certainly a Cameo commission rather than a spontaneous political declaration, but the message is earnest enough.

In the clip, Count Binface addresses Sega directly: "I need to say a galactic hello to Sega, on behalf of the Shenmue fans. I've got a little bone to pick with you, because the fans would like to campaign for an update from you, Sega, about Shenmue 4. They can't leave you guys on another cliffhanger for years!" He also floated the idea of nationalizing Sega alongside singer Adele, and closed the video with the hashtag LetsGetShenmue4. Beyond Shenmue, he wants to reboot Sega World inside London's Trocadero — the iconic West End arcade that ran from 1996 until Sega shut it down in 2011 as its arcade business declined. Bringing back Sega World has actually been in his manifesto since at least 2021, when he ran for Mayor of London.

Count Binface is standing against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and a large field of other candidates in the Clacton by-election on August 13. The Shenmue shoutout lands at a rough time for the fanbase — earlier this year a fake Shenmue 4 trailer went viral, and Ys Net, the studio founded by series creator Yu Suzuki, publicly condemned it and said it was considering legal action against whoever made it. There's still no official word from Sega on whether Shenmue 4 is actually in development.

Whether Count Binface wins the seat or not, he's picked up a reliable bloc of Sega fans who've been waiting on a fourth game since Shenmue III shipped in 2019. Sega's upcoming Virtua Fighter Crossroads, with its story-driven focus, might tide some of them over — but it's not exactly the same thing.