A few Yu Suzuki's statements/comments that might give us some indication about the nature of Shenmue III gameplay in relation to its open world structure.
- Shenmue III is a "multiple weeks" game (thank you
@Spaghetti for the translation!).
- "I believe that the balance between the user cycle and the economy will be another new point of attraction for open worlds.
I want to deliver the leisurely-paced world of Shenmue to everyone soon." (
http://www.phantomriverstone.com/2018/12/end-of-year-interview-with-yu-suzuki.html)
- "Fishing is one of the part-time jobs. So you can make money, starting from having none. There isn’t the ability to release the fish you’ve caught, at the moment. But you can sell the fish you’ve caught based on its weight for money within the game. Once you have some money, you can make more at an amusement spot. Then you can buy things like items and skill books – you can purchase skills, you see. So in that way, the effects carry through to various parts of the game." (
http://shenmue500k.net/interview-with-yu-suzuki-magic-monaco-2018/#more-232)
- "New mini-games and activities such as pinball, fishing, punching ball, whack-a-mole, wood chopping, etc... will make their appearence in Shenmue 3. They’ll be more integrated and have more connection with other elements within the world." (Gamescom 2017)
- "There’s going to be a running economy within the Shenmue world" (Gamescom 2017)
Those various information make me think that Ryo may need to settle in Guilin's region.
Compared to the relative "going through" pace of Wan Chai, Kowloon and the cave's road, I can imagine that for the third installment, Ryo will need to litteraly live in Bailu village as a villager. Learn from them, help them with simple tasks, go with them to Choubu's market to sell and buy goods, etc...
Maybe one way to get to Lan Di and the Chi You Men will be to become important on an economic scale. After all, what does matter the most to the various mafias if not money and power?
I would love the idea that Ryo won't necessary stay in point A (Bailu) until a certain point in the story is reached before going to point B (Choubu) and finally travel to point C (Baisha) for the end game. I would love the story and the world of Shenmue III to allow you as Ryo, Shenhua or Ren, to go forth and back to and from those three locations. Not necessarily because of the storyline but also because requested by "mundane" activities.