Team Ninja's long-awaited Ninja Gaiden 4 is finally in development, a collaboration born from years of discussions between Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo, PlatinumGames, and Xbox's Phil Spencer. The project, initially hampered by a lack of a concrete concept, gained momentum after conversations between Koei Tecmo's Hisashi Koinuma, PlatinumGames' Atsushi Inaba, and Spencer. Spencer's suggestion for a three-way partnership proved pivotal.
Spencer confirmed that preliminary talks began as early as 2017. The partnership with PlatinumGames, renowned for titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata, ultimately provided the perfect blend of expertise to realize the vision for a new Ninja Gaiden.
The surprise announcement last week coincided with the unexpected release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remastered version for Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Early footage showcases Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist, promising a thrilling action-slasher experience. Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces innovative mechanics, including agile traversal using wires and rails, setting it apart from its predecessors.
While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated the Developer_Direct showcase, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, slated for a Fall 2025 release, generated significant excitement. The game promises a return to form for the beloved franchise.
