Ninja Gaiden 4 Was the Surprise Reveal at Xbox Developer Direct 2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black were both revealed during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Read on to dive deeper into the gameplay of the new game and discover when you can expect its release.

Ninja Gaiden Games Revealed As Surprise During Xbox Developer Direct 2025

Team Ninja Declares 2025 As The Year Of The Ninja

Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black were both announced during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025, revealing themselves as the surprise Japanese IP teased earlier at the event. As Team Ninja celebrates their 30th anniversary this year, they have 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 his gratitude and excitement about the series' evolution, hoping to thrill fans with what's in store.

Developed in collaboration with PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the latest mainline entry in the series, following a 13-year hiatus since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3 in 2012. This new installment is a direct sequel that promises to uphold the series' tradition of offering challenging yet immensely satisfying gameplay.

The reveal at an Xbox event is fitting, given the company's long-standing partnership with Team Ninja. This collaboration has previously brought exclusive titles from the Dead or Alive franchise to Xbox and Xbox 360, as well as Ninja Gaiden 2, which was published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Features New Protagonist

Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a fresh protagonist, Yakumo, a young ninja from the Raven clan, rivals to the Hayabusa clan, who aspires to become a Master Ninja. Tomoko Nishii, Art Director at PlatinumGames, shared the team's vision for Yakumo, stating that they designed him "to be someone who can stand alongside Ryu, the epitome of what it means to be a ninja."

Yuji Nakao, Producer and Director of Ninja Gaiden 4 from PlatinumGames, provided further insights into the game. "With the significant gap since the last game, we aimed to create a new hero to make the series more accessible to new players while still engaging long-time fans. Ryu Hayabusa plays a crucial role in the narrative, serving as a major challenge and growth milestone for Yakumo," Nakao explained.

"Amidst these challenging circumstances, Yakumo will confront his adversaries, including the formidable Master Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa himself." Fans of the original protagonist need not worry, as Ryu Hayabusa remains playable, with his presence and prowess significantly influencing the game's dynamics.

Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style

Ninja Gaiden 4 will feature fast-paced combat at breakneck speeds, retaining the brutal essence of its predecessors. The game introduces a new combat style, the Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style, along with the new protagonist. Masazaku Hirayama, Director at Team Ninja, noted that "Yakumo distinguishes himself from Ryu with two combat styles: Raven Style and Nue Style." Despite their differences, Hirayama is confident that "the action will feel right at home in the Ninja Gaiden series."

Nakao added that the team is "staying true to the challenge and deep action that defines the Ninja Gaiden series, while incorporating the speed and dynamic expression of PlatinumGames."

The game is currently 70-80% complete and has entered the polishing phase, according to Nakao. More details are expected to be revealed soon. Yasuda emphasized that Ninja Gaiden 4 remains an action game at its core, and they look forward to providing fans with opportunities to experience the game firsthand.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 is slated for release in Fall 2025, as announced in the game's trailer. In an Xbox Wire interview, Yasuda shared Team Ninja's long-standing ambition to revive the series. He mentioned that "Koei Tecmo's President, Hisashi Koinuma, and PlatinumGames' CEO, Atsushi Inaba, share a close relationship, which led us to explore a collaborative development effort. PlatinumGames had the expertise we felt was ideal for working on NINJA GAIDEN."

Ninja Gaiden 4 will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, with a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass. The game is available for wishlisting now. For more information, check out 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 original Ninja Gaiden 2 released on the Xbox 360 in 2008, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and is also included in Xbox Game Pass. This remake introduces additional playable characters such as Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel, who were previously featured in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

The concept for the remake emerged during the release of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection in 2021, spurred by fan demand for an experience similar to Ninja Gaiden 2. Yasuda mentioned that the team "wanted to give players something to enjoy as they await the release of NINJA GAIDEN 4." He assured fans that "this version is crafted to satisfy both those who played the original and newcomers experiencing it as a current-generation action game."

For more details, visit our NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black page.