About six years ago, Xbox started pushing the idea for a new installment in the Ninja Gaiden series, ultimately reviving the project alongside Team Ninja and Platinum Games. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, is quite pleased with how the Ninja Gaiden franchise has made a comeback and how Xbox is working more closely with Japanese developers these days. Fans have a lot to look forward to, with not just Ninja Gaiden 4 but also a spin-off game coming in 2025, promising a rich variety of gameplay.
Phil Spencer recently shared that the freshly announced Ninja Gaiden 4 has been brewing ever since Xbox initially advocated for it six years back. This anticipated sequel follows Ninja Gaiden 3 from 2012 and is slated for a 2025 release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
In what seems to be an exciting year for Xbox, after the big splash made by Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in 2024, Xbox continues its successful streak as shown in their latest Developer Direct event. The presentation didn’t just highlight gameplay from the eagerly awaited Doom: The Dark Ages; it also brought thrilling updates about the Ninja Gaiden series. While they unexpectedly dropped a remaster of the 2008 Ninja Gaiden 2, fans also got a sneak peek at Ninja Gaiden 4 — a full decade and a half after the last mainline game. Xbox had been championing this revival idea with Team Ninja for years, demonstrating their commitment to the franchise.
In a chat on Gamertag Radio, Spencer mentioned that the ideas for this collaboration have been circulating for quite some time with both Team Ninja and Platinum Games. He reminisced about pitching the concept around six or seven years ago, reflecting on the long journey with satisfaction, as the team’s early efforts are now paying off with fan enthusiasm, describing it all as “fantastic.”
Xbox’s extended engagement in Japan is a key factor in the Ninja Gaiden series receiving new life. Spencer commented on the partnership, expressing his delight in the strides made and acknowledged there’s still ground to cover, yet he remains committed to focusing on nurturing these collaborations.
As Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has been released, fans eagerly await the next wave of titles due in 2025, namely Ninja Gaiden 4 and a spin-off called Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Unveiled during The Game Awards in 2024, Ragebound is set to launch later this year alongside the sequel. While the remastered and sequel titles boast high-end visuals, the spin-off caters to nostalgia with its pixelated graphics.
Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the triumphant return of this iconic hack-and-slash series. Players are invited to dive into a fresh adventure that fuses the series’ traditional intensity with exciting new elements. Blending Team Ninja’s seasoned combat approach with PlatinumGames’ stylish and dynamic gameplay, this game promises thrilling battles where precision and strategy are crucial. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa is back, joined by a new protagonist, Yakumo, safeguarding a future Tokyo from an ancient threat in a storyline filled with action and intrigue.
This eagerly awaited release is set for 2025 under Xbox Game Studios, promising a big year for action game aficionados and newcomers alike as Ninja Gaiden 4 pushes the limits of the genre.
