Sony has just confirmed that now that the Kickstarter goal has been reached they are in fact helping with funding and development of Shenmue 3

[Protendo]

tiffac said:
I want to know who at Sony didn't believe in Shenmue 3. That it had to go to kickstarter first before they fully fund it. How dare him or they doubt!

It's a free marketing publicity stunt.

They were successful.  The fact that people are still talking about it is just gravy....