Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black were both revealed during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Read on to learn more about the gameplay of the new game and when to expect the 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 to be the previously mentioned surprise Japanese IP appearing at the event. Team Ninja, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, has declared 2025 as "The Year of the Ninja". Fumihiko Yasuda, the Head of Team Ninja and Ninja Gaiden 4 Producer at Koei Tecmo games, expressed his gratitude and hopes that fans will be excited about how the series evolves.
Developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 is the latest mainline entry in the series, coming 13 years after Ninja Gaiden 3 was released in 2012. The game is a direct sequel to Ninja Gaiden 3 and will continue the series' tradition of offering highly challenging yet immensely satisfying gameplay.
The reveal at an Xbox event is fitting, given the company's long history with Team Ninja. Xbox has previously released games from the Dead or Alive franchise exclusively on Xbox and Xbox 360, and Ninja Gaiden 2 was published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Features New Protagonist
Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a new protagonist named Yakumo, a young ninja from the Raven clan that rivals the Hayabusa clan, aspiring to become a Master Ninja. Tomoko Nishii, Art Director for PlatinumGames, discussed their vision for the new protagonist, stating that the team designed Yakumo "to be someone who can stand alongside Ryu, the pinnacle of what it means to be a ninja."
Yuji Nakao, Ninja Gaiden 4’s Producer and Director from PlatinumGames, shared his insights about the new game. "Since it's been a while since the last game, we wanted a new hero to make the series more approachable for new players. Of course, we also wanted long-time fans to enjoy the game, so Ryu Hayabusa plays a significant role in the story, serving as a major challenge and growth milestone for Yakumo," Nakao explained.
"Within these unsettling conditions, Yakumo will have to face off against his foes, as well as the formidable Master Ninja himself, Ryu Hayabusa." Fans who prefer the original main protagonist need not worry, as Ryu Hayabusa will still be playable, and his prowess and presence are deeply felt in Ninja Gaiden 4.
Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style
Ninja Gaiden 4 will feature fast-paced combat at breakneck speeds with the brutality seen in previous Ninja Gaiden games. The game introduces a new style alongside the new protagonist: the Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style. Masazaku Hirayama, the Director of Team Ninja, said that "Yakumo distinguishes himself from Ryu as he has two combat styles: Raven Style and Nue Style." Although different, Hirayama assures that they are "confident the action will feel right at home in the Ninja Gaiden series."
Nakao mentioned 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 70-80% complete and the team has entered the polishing phase, according to Nakao. More information is coming to further explain the details of the game. Yasuda reiterates that Ninja Gaiden 4 is an action game at heart, and they are looking forward to giving fans opportunities to get hands-on experience with the game.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025
Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to be released in Fall 2025, as announced in their trailer. Yasuda shared his thoughts in an Xbox Wire interview on the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4 game. He expressed Team Ninja's long-standing desire to bring the series back. Yasuda stated 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 is set to release this Fall 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. The game will be a day one Xbox Game Pass launch title and is available for wishlist today. Check out our NINJA GAIDEN 4 page for more information about the game.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Available Now On Multiple Platforms And Xbox Game Pass
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remake based on 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 as part of Xbox Game Pass. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black will feature additional playable characters like Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel, all of whom were playable in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.
The idea for the remake came during the release of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection in 2021, where fans expressed their desire for an experience similar to Ninja Gaiden 2. Yasuda says that the team "wanted to give players something to enjoy as they wait for the release of NINJA GAIDEN 4." Yasuda assured fans that "this version is crafted to satisfy both those who played the original and newcomers discovering it as a current-generation action game."
Check out our NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black page for more information about the game.
