Well, another day, another situation where Ys Net and Shenmue 3 is in the spotlight for the absolutely wrong reason. Irrespective of Ys Net getting financial support from Sony, Deep Silver and then a cash-advance from Epic Games to become an Epic Store timed exclusive, there's another issue that's just come over the horizon and it's all the fault of Ys Net. In this case, the backers of the game on Kickstarter will not get pre-order content that comes with the regular or deluxe release of the game.

In a comment posted on the recent Kickstarter Update, a person going by the name of Antonio Miranda has copied his response by Ys Net regarding season passes and the trial version of the game. The reply is as follows:

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We apologize for the long delay in responding. Your feedback is appreciated and we will look into having your noted points in future updates. Standard and deluxe versions released through retail sales are not affiliated with the crowdfunding campaign, so will not be included with backer pledges, however, they will be available for sale separately. Kickstarter Backers will receive the Kickstarter version, Slacker Backers will receive the Slacker Backer version. Both have unique content respective to their versions not available in the retail versions. A season pass is not included. Trial version release date info has yet to be confirmed and will be announced in the updates when details are available. You will be receiving your trial version, but we must ask for your patience for a little longer. There will be more information following in the days ahead concerning updates. Sincerely, The Shenmue III Team

Now, one key thing I want to point out and play a little devil's advocate here - Kickstarter Backers weren't promised the Season Pass and couldn't honestly expect to get the season pass for Shenmue 3. I may be wrong, but I've not known a Kickstarter game give the season pass away included within the game. That's by the by because the real issue here is where it specifically says that content found within the standard and deluxe editions of the game will not be given to Kickstarter Backers but will be "available for sale separately".

Edit @ 18:03GMT - On the pre-order content, as it seems people are unsure what the pre-order content is, it is as follows as can be found on the PlayStation store or on gamepreorders.com

Pre-order Shenmue III digitally to receive the “Blazing Kick” Advanced Technique Scroll, Kenpogi Training outfit, and a Peking Power Starter Pack.

Really Ys Net? That's how you want to play this? That's a crap move and you should be ashamed. By all accounts, no, backing a title on Kickstarter is not pre-ordering it. We know that they aren't pre-orders, the rules are clear. You put money down on Kickstarter to hopefully see a project come to fruition but... really? Those who put down money long before the game was even in development are getting but they won't include whatever pre-order content is in the retail copies? You want the people who backed the game, who actually put money down for you to get your other deals to pay more?

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Ys Net has slowly but surely been alienating everybody when it comes to Shenmue 3, never-mind those who have backed the project on Kickstarter, over recent time. This move, while only impacting those who backed the project on Kickstarter, is an absolutely pathetic move by the company and I would argue sets precedent from the company where it's more than possible you'll get fleeced in some other way.

It's not unknown for a game to make purchasable DLC that isn't included in a season pass. It's very rare I say this, but caveat emptor. The recent precedence set around Shenmue 3 and Ys Net is that even Epic Games have bailed the company out when it comes to refunding Kickstarter Backers who wanted a Steam key. Ys Net don't seem to be able to do anything but cause problems.