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

Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black were both unveiled during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025, marking a thrilling surprise for fans. Dive into the details of Ninja Gaiden 4's gameplay and anticipate its release date.

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, surprising fans with the long-awaited reveal of these Japanese IPs. This year marks Team Ninja's 30th anniversary, and they have declared 2025 as "The Year of the Ninja". Fumihiko Yasuda, the Head of Team Ninja and Producer of Ninja Gaiden 4 at Koei Tecmo Games, expressed his gratitude and excitement about the series' evolution.

Developed collaboratively by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 is the first mainline entry since Ninja Gaiden 3 in 2012. The game continues the series' tradition of offering challenging yet rewarding gameplay, building directly on the narrative of its predecessor.

The reveal at an Xbox event aligns with Team Ninja's history with Microsoft, which has previously released titles from the Dead or Alive series exclusively on Xbox and published Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Features New Protagonist

Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a new protagonist, Yakumo, a young ninja from the Raven clan, aspiring to become a Master Ninja and rival to the Hayabusa clan. Tomoko Nishii, Art Director at PlatinumGames, shared that Yakumo was designed "to be someone who can stand alongside Ryu, the epitome of what it means to be a ninja."

Yuji Nakao, Ninja Gaiden 4’s Producer and Director from PlatinumGames, explained the rationale behind the new hero. "With the significant time since the last game, we wanted a new character to make the series more accessible to newcomers while ensuring that long-time fans have a compelling experience. Ryu Hayabusa remains a central figure, challenging Yakumo and aiding his growth," Nakao stated.

Fans of the original protagonist can rejoice as Ryu Hayabusa remains playable, his presence and skill deeply integrated into Ninja Gaiden 4's storyline.

Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style

Ninja Gaiden 4 promises the fast-paced, brutal combat synonymous with the series. A new combat style, the Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nue Style, is introduced alongside Yakumo. Masazaku Hirayama, Director at Team Ninja, stated, "Yakumo's Raven and Nue styles differentiate him from Ryu, yet we are confident that the action will resonate with fans of the Ninja Gaiden series."

Nakao emphasized the team's commitment to "maintaining the challenging and deep action that defines Ninja Gaiden, while infusing the speed and dynamic flair of PlatinumGames."

The game is currently 70-80% complete and entering the polishing phase, with more details to be shared soon. Yasuda reaffirmed that Ninja Gaiden 4 is fundamentally an action game, and the team is eager to offer fans hands-on experiences.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to launch in Fall 2025, as announced in its trailer. In an interview with Xbox Wire, Yasuda shared Team Ninja’s ambition to revive the series. He highlighted the collaborative spirit between Koei Tecmo’s President, Hisashi Koinuma, and PlatinumGames’ CEO, Atsushi Inaba, which facilitated the joint development effort. Yasuda noted, "PlatinumGames brought the expertise we felt was essential for advancing NINJA GAIDEN."

The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, launching day one on Xbox Game Pass. You can wishlist it now and visit our NINJA GAIDEN 4 page for more details.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Available Now On Multiple Platforms And Xbox Game Pass

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remake of the 2008 Xbox 360 title Ninja Gaiden 2, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and included in Xbox Game Pass. The remake features additional playable characters such as Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel, previously seen in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

The concept for the remake emerged after the 2021 release of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, driven by fan demand for an experience akin to Ninja Gaiden 2. Yasuda explained, "We wanted to provide fans with something enjoyable while they await NINJA GAIDEN 4. This version is designed to delight both veterans and newcomers to the series."

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