Ninja Gaiden 4 On Xbox Talks Started “Six or Seven Years Ago”

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Summary

  • KOEI Tecmo unveiled Ninja Gaiden 4 co-developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, with Xbox Game Studios publishing.
  • Phil Spencer revealed Xbox worked on the deal for over 6 years before announcement at Xbox Developer Direct show.
  • Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to release in Fall 2025, featuring new protagonist Yakumo and legendary Ryu Hayabusa, and invoking franchise nostalgia.

A few days ago at Microsoft’s Xbox Developer Direct event, KOEI Tecmo revealed Ninja Gaiden 4, a game being jointly developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. What made this announcement even more surprising was that Xbox Game Studios will be handling the publishing responsibilities, a move that took many people by surprise.

Although the announcement was made in January, KOEI Tecmo has also revealed that the game will be released sometime during Fall 2025.

Phil Spencer Has Been Working On The Ninja Gaiden 4 Deal For Years

As I sit here, controller in hand, I can’t help but share an exciting piece of news that has been brewing for over half a decade – the possibility of a new Ninja Gaiden game! In a recent chat with GamerTag Radio (via WindowsCentral), Xbox boss Phil Spencer let us in on this tantalizing tidbit. He shared that about six or seven years ago, they gently knocked on some doors and posed the question, “What if?” It wasn’t until recently that all the pieces fell into place to make this dream a reality. Here’s to hoping we’ll soon be slicing and dicing our way through another Ninja Gaiden adventure!

Spencer commented, “I’m really satisfied with our partnerships with Japanese publishers,” and highlighted the importance of active listening to build strong relationships with Japanese gaming firms.

It turns out that Microsoft is releasing Ninja Gaiden 4, an unexpected move! After all, wouldn’t it be surprising if Microsoft was the publisher? While it’s common for the game to appear on Xbox platforms, having Xbox itself publish it is quite rare indeed.

Although Ninja Gaiden may not have been widely recognized beforehand, it’s nonetheless considered one of the most esteemed action series due to its challenging gameplay, steep learning curve, and continuous action. The latest installment in the Ninja Gaiden series, Ninja Gaiden 3, was released 12 years ago, and since then, the franchise has been relatively inactive.

In simple terms, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a follow-up to its previous game, introducing a new main character named Yakumo. Fear not, fans of the franchise, as you’ll also get to play as Ryu Hayabusa and he’s expected to have an important part in the next installment.

Ninja Gaiden 4 combines the refined combat style of Team Ninja with the thrilling, agile action gameplay of PlatinumGames. This fusion delivers visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategic thinking. Employ Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and wreak havoc on your adversaries, while also utilizing classic moves like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The iconic character Ryu Hayabusa makes a reappearance with an updated yet recognizable skill set to master. This game offers a customizable player experience that will test the mettle of seasoned action game enthusiasts while allowing novices to embark on a pulse-pounding journey filled with surprises.

Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released in Fall 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

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2025-01-26 01:08