Ninja Gaiden Games Revealed As Surprise During Xbox Developer Direct 2025

Team Ninja Declares 2025 As The Year Of The Ninja

The gaming world was set abuzz when Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black were unveiled during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025. These titles emerged as the long-rumored surprise Japanese IP, captivating fans worldwide. As Team Ninja celebrates its 30th anniversary, they've proudly declared 2025 as "The Year of the Ninja." Fumihiko Yasuda, the Head of Team Ninja and Producer for Ninja Gaiden 4 at Koei Tecmo, expressed heartfelt gratitude and excitement about the evolving series.

Developed collaboratively by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the latest installment in the beloved franchise, arriving 13 years after Ninja Gaiden 3. This direct sequel promises to uphold the series' legacy of challenging yet immensely satisfying gameplay.

The reveal at an Xbox event aligns perfectly with Team Ninja's history with Microsoft, who previously released titles from the Dead or Alive series exclusively on Xbox and published Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Features New Protagonist

Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a fresh face to the franchise, Yakumo, a young ninja from the Raven clan, rivals to the Hayabusa clan, aspiring to achieve the revered title of Master Ninja. Tomoko Nishii, Art Director at PlatinumGames, shared their vision for Yakumo, designed "to stand alongside Ryu, the epitome of ninja excellence."

Yuji Nakao, Ninja Gaiden 4’s Producer and Director from PlatinumGames, highlighted the team's approach: "With a significant gap since the last game, introducing a new hero like Yakumo was essential to make the series accessible to new players while ensuring long-time fans find joy in Ryu Hayabusa's pivotal role as a mentor and challenge to Yakumo."

Despite the new protagonist, fans of the original hero need not worry; Ryu Hayabusa remains playable and significantly impacts the narrative.

Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style

Ninja Gaiden 4 retains the series' hallmark of fast-paced, brutal combat but introduces a novel Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style alongside the new protagonist. Masazaku Hirayama, Director at Team Ninja, emphasized that "Yakumo's dual combat styles, Raven Style and Nue Style, complement each other while resonating with the essence of the Ninja Gaiden series."

Nakao added that the team aims "to preserve the challenging and deep action that defines Ninja Gaiden, while injecting the speed and dynamic flair characteristic of PlatinumGames."

Currently, the game is 70-80% complete and has entered its polishing phase. More detailed information will be forthcoming, and Yasuda emphasized that Ninja Gaiden 4 remains an action game at its core, eagerly anticipating fan engagement through hands-on experiences.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 is slated for release in Fall 2025, as confirmed by the game's trailer. In an Xbox Wire interview, Yasuda shared Team Ninja’s long-standing ambition to revive the series. He noted that "the close relationship between Koei Tecmo’s President Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames’ CEO Atsushi Inaba facilitated this collaborative venture, with PlatinumGames bringing the ideal expertise to Ninja Gaiden."

The game will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, debuting as a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass. Fans can already add it to their wishlists. For more details, visit our dedicated 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 classic, is now accessible on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and is included in Xbox Game Pass. This version introduces additional playable characters such as Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel, previously featured in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

The concept for the remake emerged following the 2021 release of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, driven by fan demand for an experience akin to Ninja Gaiden 2. Yasuda explained that the team "wanted to provide an enjoyable experience for fans awaiting Ninja Gaiden 4, ensuring this version appeals to both veterans and newcomers to the series."

For more information, check out our Ninja Gaiden 2 Black page.