The air was thick with speculation as fans eagerly awaited the reveal of the mystery game during today’s Xbox Developer Direct. Many were convinced it would hail from a Japanese studio, but few could pin down exactly what it might be.
Well, the suspense has ended—it’s been unveiled that the game is none other than Ninja Gaiden 4, crafted through an exciting collaboration between Team Ninja and Platinum Games!
During Xbox’s January Developer Direct livestream, we were given a rare look inside the iconic Team Ninja studio, the talented creators behind the much-anticipated Ninja Gaiden sequel. This marks their latest major undertaking, and today’s presentation served as our first glimpse into the project. It’s quite remarkable how this announcement managed to avoid leaks, especially given that it was showcased on an Xbox stage—a platform less associated with Team Ninja’s usual releases.
What we glimpsed was everything a Ninja Gaiden aficionado could dream of: rapid-fire combat, visceral gore, and sleek melee action—all set against a moody, rain-soaked backdrop. And yes, Ryu Hayabusa is making a return, seemingly stepping into a rival’s shoes this time around!
The Ninja Gaiden franchise has deep roots with Xbox, yet Team Ninja has largely been seen as a champion of the PlayStation camp in recent years. Since the advent of the original Nioh and its follow-up, Nioh 2, the studio has built a strong association with PlayStation. Though the Nioh games found their way to PC, they’ve remained strangers to the Xbox lineup. While Team Ninja did bring Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty to Xbox, their next big endeavor, Rise of the Ronin, is slated as a PS5 exclusive.
Rise of the Ronin introduced intriguing concepts but seemed to miss the mark by adopting some misguided elements from Western open-world games. It provided an experience that left both loyal fans of Team Ninja’s stellar combat and newcomers seeking a seamless samurai-like adventure feeling somewhat unfulfilled.
In addition to this exciting new project, it seems the Ninja Gaiden series is experiencing a resurgence. At the 2024 Game Awards, Dotemu, a publisher known for their love of retro-styled games, announced Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound—a fresh 2D action game from the minds behind the acclaimed Blasphemous series.
