Xbox’s Long-Awaited Push for Ninja Gaiden 4 Finally Pays Off!

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Summary

  • Xbox pushed for Ninja Gaiden 4 roughly six years ago, leading to its revival with Team Ninja and Platinum Games.
  • Phil Spencer expresses satisfaction with the revival of the Ninja Gaiden franchise and Xbox’s increased collaboration with Japanese developers.
  • Ninja Gaiden fans can anticipate not only the sequel but also a spin-off game in 2025, offering a diverse gameplay experience.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer shared that the development of “Ninja Gaiden 4,” which was initially proposed six years ago by console makers, has finally been unveiled. This upcoming game is the much-anticipated successor to the 2012 release, “Ninja Gaiden 3.” The release date for “Ninja Gaiden 4” is scheduled for 2025 and it will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Following an exhilarating 2024 marked by the debut of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Xbox seems determined to sustain its impressive streak as suggested by the revelations at its latest Developer Direct event. The livestream not only unveiled the gameplay for the eagerly awaited Doom: The Dark Ages, but also disclosed several significant updates concerning the Ninja Gaiden series. Among these, a remaster of the 2008 release, Ninja Gaiden 2, was unveiled concurrently with its launch. Additionally, developer Team Ninja gave us a sneak peek at Ninja Gaiden 4, the first primary installment in the series in 13 years. Interestingly, it appears that one of these announcements from the Japanese studio might have been an idea initially proposed by Xbox several years ago.

During an interview on Gamertag Radio, Phil Spencer shared that he’s had lengthy conversations with Team Ninja and Platinum Games, the developers behind Ninja Gaiden 4, for quite some time. He went on to explain that the concept for this new sequel from the Japanese studio was something they’ve been discussing for about six to seven years. Spencer expressed his delight at finally being able to reveal a project they’ve been working on for a while and shared how encouraging it is to see fans react positively, describing the overall experience as truly fantastic.

Xbox Pitched Ninja Gaiden’s Revival Years Ago, Plans to Continue Similar Collaboration with Japanese Devs

It appears that Xbox fans can credit their platform for the return of a new mainline entry for Team Ninja’s IP, Ninja Gaiden, due to Microsoft’s growing influence in Japan over the past few years. Regarding the collaboration between Microsoft and Japanese studios, Spencer expressed his satisfaction with the advancements made, stating that there is still “more work to be done” and emphasizing his intention to maintain focus on this partnership.

Having just released “Ninja Gaiden 2 Black,” fans are now eagerly anticipating two more “Ninja Gaiden” games set for release in 2025. Alongside “Ninja Gaiden 4,” there’s also the spin-off game, “Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound,” which was teased at The Game Awards 2024 and is expected to launch later this year. Interestingly, while both the remaster and the sequel feature advanced visuals, the spin-off game harks back to a nostalgic era with its pixelated graphics.

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2025-01-26 19:44