Ninja Gaiden Games Revealed As Surprise During Xbox Developer Direct 2025
Team Ninja Declares 2025 As The Year Of The Ninja
The Xbox Developer Direct 2025 unveiled two thrilling titles: Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, marking a significant moment for fans of the series. As Team Ninja celebrates its 30th anniversary, the studio has dubbed 2025 "The Year of the Ninja." Fumihiko Yasuda, Head of Team Ninja and Producer of Ninja Gaiden 4 at Koei Tecmo, expressed his excitement and hopes that fans will enjoy the evolution of the series.
Ninja Gaiden 4, a collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, marks the first mainline entry since Ninja Gaiden 3 in 2012. This direct sequel promises to continue the series' tradition of challenging yet rewarding gameplay. The reveal at an Xbox event is fitting, given Team Ninja's history with Xbox, including exclusive releases of the Dead or Alive series and Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox 360.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Features New Protagonist
Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a fresh protagonist, Yakumo, a young ninja from the Raven clan, who aims to become a Master Ninja. Tomoko Nishii, Art Director at PlatinumGames, emphasized that Yakumo was designed to complement Ryu Hayabusa, the iconic ninja of the series. Yuji Nakao, Producer and Director from PlatinumGames, explained that the new hero aims to make the game more accessible to newcomers while ensuring long-time fans still have Ryu to enjoy. Ryu will play a crucial role in Yakumo's journey, serving as both a mentor and a formidable challenge.
Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style
Ninja Gaiden 4 brings fast-paced, brutal combat with the introduction of the Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style. Masazaku Hirayama, Director at Team Ninja, highlighted that Yakumo's unique combat styles, Raven and Nue, will offer players a fresh yet familiar experience within the Ninja Gaiden universe. Nakao added that the game stays true to the series' challenging action while incorporating PlatinumGames' signature speed and dynamic expression.
The game is currently 70-80% complete and in the polishing phase. More details will be shared soon, and Yasuda emphasized that Ninja Gaiden 4 remains a core action game, with plans for fans to get hands-on experience before its release.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025
Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to launch in Fall 2025 across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, and fans can wishlist it now. Yasuda shared in an Xbox Wire interview that the collaboration with PlatinumGames, facilitated by the strong relationship between Koei Tecmo's President Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames' CEO Atsushi Inaba, was crucial in bringing this project to life.
For more information, visit our Ninja Gaiden 4 page.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Available Now On Multiple Platforms And Xbox Game Pass
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remake of the 2008 Xbox 360 title Ninja Gaiden 2, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and is included in Xbox Game Pass. This version adds playable characters such as Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel, previously seen in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.
The decision to remake Ninja Gaiden 2 came after the 2021 Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, where fans expressed a desire for a similar experience. Yasuda noted that this release aims to entertain fans as they await Ninja Gaiden 4, catering to both returning players and newcomers looking for a modern action game experience.
For more details, visit our Ninja Gaiden 2 Black page.
