Summary
As it turns out, the idea to have Team Ninja and PlatinumGames team up forNinja Gaiden 4came from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting time forNinja Gaidenfans, as a remaster of 2008’sNinja Gaiden 2titledNinja Gaiden 2 Blackwas both announced and released not too long after the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 livestream on January 23. As if that wasn’t enough, it was also revealedNinja Gaiden 4is in development and will launch sometime later this year.
Ninja Gaiden 4will be the first mainline entry in the series since 2012’sNinja Gaiden 3, with Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo returning to develop it under Xbox Game Studios. A third developer with a lot of experience in high-octane action games is joining these two studios in the form of PlatinumGames, known for itswork on theBayonettaseries,Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, andNier: Automata,among many other licensed and original titles.
Many players feel that PlatinumGames is a natural choice to help developNinja Gaiden 4, and they would be surprised to know that it was Phil Spencer who first came up with the idea to bring the studio on board. In a recent interview withGame Watch(as translated byVGC), Team Ninja producer Fumihiko Yasuda revealed that the Xbox head proposed thatPlatinumGames join Koei Tecmo and Team NinjaonNinja Gaiden 4after a meeting between Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames president Atsushi Inaba to discuss the project.
Phil Spencer Suggested That PlatinumGames Help With Ninja Gaiden 4
Fumihiko Yasuda notes that before this meeting, Team Ninja had meant to develop a newNinja Gaidengame for some time, but had difficulty coming up with any definitive plans for the project. Hisashi Koinuma and Atsushi Inaba are good friends, and both their meeting and PlatinumGames’ experience in over-the-top action games were the catalyst forNinja Gaiden 4. Phil Spencer himself also mentioned his role in the game being greenlit earlier this week, stating thathe had been trying to bring backNinja Gaidensince around 2017.
Ninja Gaiden 4will be centered around a new playable protagonist, Yakumo, while series hero Ryu Hayabusa is returning as a second main character. New transversal mechanics are being introduced that will let players use wires and rails to navigate their environment, combat looks to be as punishing as ever, and new abilities will be added alongside classicNinja Gaidenmoves. So far, the closest thingNinja Gaiden 4has to an official release dateis a Fall 2025 window, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to play it on day one when it finally launches later this year.
WHERE TO PLAY
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
Return of the Legend: Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved: NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
An Ancient Enemy Returns: An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
