Shenmue Fans Get Count Binface — a Man Dressed as a Trash Can Who's Going Up Against Nigel Farage in a UK Election — to Call on Sega to Make Shenmue 4

What follows is simply a operation of words I ne'er thought I’d write: Count Binface has called connected Sega to marque Shenmue 4.

Okay, this volition request a spot of an explanation. Count Binface is simply a antheral who is celebrated successful the UK for lasting successful section elections portion wearing a trash tin (we Brits telephone it a bin) connected his head. He ne'er wins; rather, his extremity is to marque the electoral process look ridiculous, and he's beauteous bully astatine it. Count Binface lasting unceremoniously successful the inheritance portion votes are work retired for different candidates has a wont of making adjacent the astir sincere of politicians look much than a small silly.

(L-R) Count Binface stands adjacent to Labour campaigner Andy Burnham and Robert Pownall, aft Burnham wins the predetermination for MP of Makerfield connected June 19, 2026. Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images.

But Count Binface is possibly much celebrated present than he’s ever been, and that’s due to the fact that helium is the sole challenger to right-wing person of the Reform UK enactment and Donald trump chum, Nigel Farage, who precocious resigned arsenic MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election successful which helium says helium volition stand. The resignation came amid allegations astir his idiosyncratic financing, which helium continues to deny. Under expanding pressure, Farage took the precocious crushed — oregon truthful helium presumably thought — declaring that the “judges of my actions” should beryllium his constituents.

Enter Count Binface, aka the comedian Jon Harvey, who confirmed helium volition tally successful the Clacton by-election. His slogan: “'My entreaty is that I'm not Nigel Farage.”

This is an predetermination showdown for the ages, and Count Binface mightiness really get immoderate votes this time, due to the fact that rival parties dismissed Farage’s actions arsenic a stunt and said they would beryllium retired the election. So, yes, we are acceptable for Count Binface vs Nigel Farage, victor takes each (well, Clacton).

Count Binface has go rather the personage successful the UK. And present he's talking astir Shenmue 4. Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images.

Okay. Still with me? Good. So, with Count Binface doing the rounds connected ace superior quality programs connected the BBC and the like, he’s carved retired the clip to contented a peculiar connection for Sega. Count Binface was commandeered by Shenmue instrumentality radical Shenmue Dojo, who utilized Cameo, a website wherever radical wage celebrities for personalized video messages, to get Farage's governmental nemesis to contented a astonishing telephone to action.

“Hi, Count Binface here, intergalactic abstraction warrior and possibly the adjacent MP for Clacton!" helium says successful the video.

“But, I person much important, pressing duties to bash close now, due to the fact that I request to accidental a galactic hullo to Sega connected behalf of the Shenmue fans. Now, I’m not conscionable saying hello, Sega. I’ve got a small bony to prime with you due to the fact that the fans would similar to run for an update — from you, Sega — astir Shenmue 4. Yes, they can’t permission you guys connected different cliffhanger for years! Yes, I wonderment whether Sega needs to beryllium nationalized on with Adele?

“What bash you say? Shall we harness the powerfulness of the Shenmue to guarantee that determination is nary hold with updates ever again? I’d rather similar the dependable of that. I’d rather similar to reboot SegaWorld successful London’s Trocadero, and person aged Sonic the Hedgehog backmost successful his prime. Oh, that would beryllium wonderful.

“But hey, I digress. The constituent is, the Shenmue fans are amazing. Sega, you request to get your bottoms successful gear, benignant yourselves out, get the update done.

“Whether you’re Sega oregon the Shenmue, the astir important happening of people is to travel me. And erstwhile everyone comes to vote, marque your votes Count!”

I peculiarly similar the drive-by petition for the instrumentality of SegaWorld successful Tracadero, which I utilized to predominant connected juncture during my teen years to play arcade games. And Sonic returning to his prime? I ideate the bosses astatine Sega wouldn’t hold with that sentiment.

In fact, I’d emotion to beryllium a alert connected the partition erstwhile the radical astatine the apical of Sega drawback upwind of Count Binface’s video message, if they ever do. I fishy determination would beryllium much than a fewer confused faces.

As for Shenmue 4, contempt the powerfulness of Count Binface, it remains an improbable project. As of now, it's chartless if a 4th large Shenmue crippled volition ever get made, though the franchise's fans surely anticipation it happens. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki told IGN successful 2023 that helium wanted to make a 4th crippled astatine immoderate point. This, Suzuki hoped astatine the time, would triumph the crippled a warmer reception crossed a wider acceptable of platforms, aft a middling effect to Shenmue 3 astatine the game's archetypal launch.

Honestly? It each sounds similar rubbish to me.

Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].