Team Ninja producer Fumihiko Yasuda has revealed that the studio has been eager to develop a new installment in the Ninja Gaiden series for quite some time. However, they struggled to settle on a compelling concept. The turning point came when Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames head Atsushi Inaba discussed the project, which eventually led to Phil Spencer's involvement. Spencer, recognizing the potential of a collaboration, suggested that the three companies—Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo, and PlatinumGames—should unite their talents to bring the new game to life.
Phil Spencer confirmed that discussions about a sequel had been ongoing since 2017, when he first approached Team Ninja. After years of deliberation, they identified PlatinumGames as the perfect partner due to their expertise in crafting fast-paced action games such as Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.
Last week saw the exciting announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4. Alongside this reveal, a re-release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black—an enhanced version of the beloved Xbox 360 title—unexpectedly dropped on Xbox, PS5, and PC platforms.
The first trailer for Ninja Gaiden 4 showcases the return of the iconic ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, in a thrilling action-packed slasher. The gameplay trailer hints at several innovative mechanics not seen in previous entries, including the ability to swiftly navigate through areas using wires and rails, promising a fresh take on the series.
While DOOM: The Dark Ages was the highlight for many at Developer_Direct, Ninja Gaiden 4 also stole the spotlight. Announced during the event, the highly anticipated sequel to Koei Tecmo's popular series is set to launch in the fall of 2025.
