Ninja Gaiden Revived by Phil Spencer

Team Ninja's long-awaited Ninja Gaiden 4 is finally in development, thanks to a collaborative effort between Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo, and PlatinumGames, facilitated by Xbox's Phil Spencer. The project, discussed since 2017, initially stalled due to a lack of a cohesive concept. However, conversations between Koei Tecmo's Hisashi Koinuma, PlatinumGames' Atsushi Inaba, and Spencer ultimately led to the three companies uniting to bring the game to life. PlatinumGames' expertise in fast-paced action titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata proved to be the perfect complement to Team Ninja's vision.

The surprise announcement coincided with the release of a remastered Ninja Gaiden 2 Black for Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC. Early footage showcases Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist, engaging in intense, signature slasher combat. Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces novel mechanics, including swift traversal using wires and rails, setting it apart from its predecessors.

While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated the Developer_Direct showcase, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, slated for an autumn 2025 release, generated significant excitement. The collaboration promises a thrilling return to the beloved franchise, infused with fresh gameplay elements.