I decided to buy this game on GOG because I really enjoy it and wanted a DRM-free version.

I'd like to share some issues I've discovered for others considering purchasing the game on GOG.

1. The Deluxe Edition is missing DLC that is available on other stores. The Burning Sandstorm technique and Flight Jacket are NOT available with the Deluxe edition on GOG.

2. Achievements for the game are present in GOG Galaxy, but as of the date of this post (December 18, 2021) they appear to be non-functional. [UPDATE] Achievements are functional but don't unlock reliably, many GOG games have this issue unfortunately.

3. Saved games are not compatible between store editions, even if the files are renamed to match the ID of the other store. For example, if you played some of the game with the Epic Game Store version, you will have to start over again on the GOG version.

I was wondering if the gog version has the same files as steam/epic version. I checked my friends copy and the files that contain the burning sandstorm technique and flight jacket are
pakchunk120-WindowsNoEditor (Located in \Shenmue3\Content\Paks) (This is for the sandstorm technique)
pakchunk121-WindowsNoEditor (Located in \Shenmue3\Content\Paks) (Tis is for the flight jacket)

Can you check if you have those 2 files?

If you do have those files they might not be activated and deep silver forgot to do it? I am no expert but I did manage to unpack those .pak files and the only ones that had those bonus things were those 2 files.. Also do you know if the game has the kickstarter rewards as well? Because I did find some other files that had some bonus tickets etc.

EDIT: After some more digging it definetly has something to do with this file

pakchunk0-WindowsNoEditor

When swapping this file on my epic standard version with my friends steam version all things get atctivated such as DLC (even if I don't own it) , Kickstarter rewards and the outfits and burning sandstorm.
The build version when I swapped the file changed from 03112 (Epic ver.) to 03111 (Steam ver.)
Also the save files were the not recognized between the 2 versions.

Now I am no expert so I really don't know what else to do but if someone else wants to check it out I unpacked the file with Quickbms
Here is the AES Key if you want to unpack the file:
0x083825D664477DF45EDBF6331FE050FBDCBC3024794D7716252BED1597417A48

I am wondering how did deep silver even managed to mess this. They just had to keep a build for all 3 stores...
The best thing we could do is to contact deep silver and let them know about this

I finished the game again 2 days ago and uninstalled it to make space so I can't check anymore. Maybe someone else with it still installed can take a look if they come across this thread.

I'm not entirely sure about the kickstarter rewards. I remember in the EGS deluxe edition I started with extra items, such as Snake Power. On the GOG version I did not receive any extra items when starting the game.

Hi, I'm trying to investigate differences between the versions and would need some help with how to properly use quickBMS to unpack the files. If possible, could you please explain the overall process (or message me if you want to discuss offline)?

Thanks, I'm trying to figure out the DLC differences between Steam and EGS. If the content is present, there should be a path to bring them to GOG as well.

Ok, so having checked out both EGS and Steam's pakchunk0-WindowsNoEditor.pak file using QuickBMS, both versions of the game have all the plugins (DLC) in the game files. Unlocking the DLC requires purchasing the DLC from the store and the game apparently checks for licenses on launch, except for the Kickstarter-exclusive DLC which cannot be purchased but exist on all stores as backers apparently got store-specific keys for those and also need to enter their Backer code from in the game's Settings menu.

If someone can verify that Shenmue III on GOG is 49.82 GB and that pakchunk0-WindowsNoEditor.pak on GOG has all 26 DLC folders, then that means the game files contain the DLC. It is just a matter of the publisher unlocking them. Even on Steam/EGS, the game comes with all files. Purchasing the DLC adds the entitlement which unlocks it in the game automatically. Maybe it is because the publisher did not bother to patch out the DLC entitlement check that GOG is missing the DLC mentioned as missing here. The backer content is very likely accessible by simply entering the backer code though.

On a side note, even though there appear to be some minor differences between EGS and Steam pakchunk0-WindowsNoEditor, pakchunk1-WindowsNoEditor, pakchunk2-WindowsNoEditor and pakchunk4-WindowsNoEditor PAK files, the actual game content is practically the same. Saves are stored for both in the same location (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Shenmue3\Saved\SaveGames\) but EGS save file names start with Slot whereas Steam starts with System. I already uninstalled my local EGS version but it may be possible to reuse the saves from one in the other by simply renaming the save file matching an existing save file.

Thanks for the heads up. I always try to get the most complete version of any game even if it is only very minor additons. Disappointing that GOG's version of the "Deluxe Edition" lacks content that the other stores have.

Edit: I bought it anyways, apparently this is the only version that can be played without an internet connection. Sometimes I am without wifi, so that is a big selling point compared to Steam and Epic.

You should contact them and let them know about this issue. I already did this. Here is how to contact them

https://support.deepsilver.com/us/games/shenmue3

In addition to alexandros050's great point about contacting support, could you please confirm the filesize of the game and if there's a Backer code option in the Settings menu of the game? I suspect the game might actually have all the content in its files, just locked away due to publisher lack of care.

Any response on this?

Yes. Here is the response...Maybe if more people send them a message they might fix it.

https://www.gog.com/forum/shenmue_iii/is_all_deluxeexclusive_steam_dlc_available_on_gog/post6

I picked this up on GOG back when it was released outside of EGS, but I had originally preordered the digital deluxe version on EGS, and have very nearly 100% save files from that version. I got kind of disappointed back then, when it seemed like I couldn't just move my saves over and continue playing on GOG, but I've been messing around with some things between EGS, GOG, and Steam the last couple days, since I own it on all three stores.

First of all, save data can be easily converted from one version to the other, but it requires a hex editor. The game uses
Slot[PlatformID][save slot # (0 index)].sav - (individual game saves)
System[PlatformID].sav - (system settings, and probably Battle Rally save data (if applicable).)

Saves have a different string of characters for the [PlatformID] portion of the filename depending on which storefront version of the game it's created on. For moving saves, make a copy of the original save and change this copy's filename to the ID for the destination platform. (Create a new save on the destination platform version first to find this character string.)
The other thing that needs to be done is to open the sav files in a hex editor. At the bottom of the file there's a UserID field that needs to match the UserID for the destination platform. (Use the dummy save file from copying the file name ID to copy and paste the UserID from the end of the dummy file into the copy of the original save.)
After this the saves should be recognized by the version from the destination storefront.
Regardless of platform, all saves are searched for by the game in the same Shenmue3 save folder.

The number of save slots used may actually be recorded by the system save, or something. I saw some mention of needing to actually do this process for all the saves from the original platform version, but didn't actually test whether it would work for me by only converting a subset of the save files.

In my case, I wasn't actually able to load up the saves, despite them being detected, because it complained about not having the DLC activated for some items in the saves (likely the Peking Power Starter Pack + kenpo gi, and digital deluxe bonuses, since I had those on EGS). However, all of my Battle Rally data was loaded, and I immediately had all of the Battle Rally rewards unlocked on new saves on the GOG version. (All the Battle Rally achievements unlocked automatically as well.)

I backed for a physical PS4 version during the Kickstarter to have the game on a physical disc, but they wouldn't give me backer DLC keys for a different platform without changing the platform for my physical reward. So I didn't have those unlocked on EGS, but just using the backer password in the settings menu still doesn't work on the GOG version. It complains about not having the platform DLC codes activated. Interestingly, it complains about specifically not having the DLC codes activated for Steam in the GOG version.
Just for reference, since it's different from the others, the GOG build number is: 01798.
(Edit: Seems like the Steam release is actually also on this build and version [v1.06.01 (01798)], while the EGS release is still on [v1.06.00 (03112)])

Still intending to do some compares of the save files to see if there's some easy data modifications that could get around the DLC checks, but it seems like I'm pretty much SOL for getting my particular save files fully working on the GOG version. Copying the pakchunk0 file from EGS to the GOG or Steam version just caused the game to fail to run (stuck on a black screen at start), similar to trying to run the EGS version from the exe file without EGS running.

It's kind of upsetting, but might not be much I can do about this.

If it's possible I would like you to test something. Can you delete the galaxy64.dll and Steam_api64.dll (don't forget to create a backup of the files so you can restore them later) located in Engine ---> Binaries ---> Thirdparty ---> Steamworks ---> Steamv139 ---> Win64 folder and launch the game from the .exe in the istallation folder? I tested that out and even though I had to create a new game the dlc that was missing was activated which makes me think that there may be something that blocks it from the galaxy64.dll

I compared the checksums of every PAK file and both the .exe's and it is the same GOG and Steam versions which makes me think that the data is already included in the game and the actual problem has something to do with DRM.

Now if only someone knew how to check what's inside the galaxy64.dll file then maybe we can find some more information. I am no expert on that so I have to leave it for people that know.

by the way both steam and Gog versions have same version and build number (v1.06.01 build number 01798)

EDIT: It could also have something to do with the savedata that's created. Upon checking with a hex editor the steam , gog (with Galaxy64.dll and steam_api64.dll) , and gog (without the galaxy64.dll and steam_api64.dll) , there are 3 different versions of save files created. The Steam and GOG (with Galaxy64.dll and steam_api64.dll) have a User ID inside plus some other info but the GOG (without the Galaxy64.dll and steam_api64.dll) has no user ID inside and the name of the save files are different.
Also I assume that removing the galaxy64.dll will not allow you to earn achievements or use the overlay.

Another thing that I discovered recently is that even backer codes do not work on gog version. I unpacked the files and found all the backer codes but when entering them I get the following message (see attached picture). This probably confirms that there is some sort of DRM blocking the DLC to be activated.

EDIT: I edited the files and added the burning sandstorm as a pawnshop exchange item but when I launched the game the capsule set disappeared which basically confirms that it is 100% locked behind some kind of DRM. Only way is if people send email to the company to upload a different version of the game (steam ver. but without drm)

EDIT 2: I even used the debug menu to add the scrolls to my inventory but when I load the save file as above the scroll disappears from my inventory.


EDIT 3: I manged (kind of) to find a way to add the missing items. More information on the link below. Please even though this mod will add the missing items to your inventory we should all still contact the publisher and let them know about this because for example in this gog version even kickstarter codes do not work for the people that want to use them.
https://www.gog.com/forum/shenmue_iii/mod_missing_bonus_items_for_gog_version