Team Ninja’s Fumihiko Yasuda reveals the studio’s long-held desire for a new Ninja Gaiden installment, hampered only by a lack of a concrete concept. This changed following discussions between Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma, PlatinumGames head Atsushi Inaba, and ultimately, Phil Spencer. Spencer’s suggestion for a collaborative effort between the three companies finally unlocked the project.
Phil Spencer confirms these discussions began as early as 2017, marking years of deliberation before the ideal partnership emerged – PlatinumGames, renowned for their high-octane action titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.
The recent announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 coincided with a surprise re-release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an enhanced version of the Xbox 360 classic, now available on Xbox, PS5, and PC.
Initial trailers showcase Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist, promising a thrilling action-slasher experience. Gameplay footage hints at innovative mechanics absent from previous entries, including swift traversal using wires and rails.
While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated headlines at Developer_Direct, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, a highly anticipated continuation of Koei Tecmo’s acclaimed series, also generated significant buzz. The game is slated for a Fall 2025 release.
