Xbox Unveils New Ninja Gaiden Game by Nioh Creators and PlatinumGames

Today’s Xbox Developer Direct has had everyone guessing about the mystery game they were planning to unveil. Most speculations pointed towards a project from a Japanese studio, but hardly anyone nailed the actual title.

Surprise, surprise! The curtains have been lifted to reveal a brand new Ninja Gaiden game, specifically Ninja Gaiden 4. This installment is crafted through a collaboration between the famed Team Ninja and the dynamic Platinum Games.

During Xbox’s January Developer Direct livestream, we got the thrilling opportunity to step inside the renowned Team Ninja studio, the brilliant minds behind the exciting new Ninja Gaiden project. The buzz today wasn’t just about the game—it was quite something that this preview managed to stay under wraps, especially given its unexpected Xbox platform reveal.

For fans of Ninja Gaiden, today’s showcase ticked all the right boxes. The game was a blend of rapid combat sequences, intense action laced with gore, and exhilarating melee fights, all wrapped in a rainy, atmospheric setting. And yes, Ryu Hayabusa is making a return, seemingly as a rival!

Historically, the Ninja Gaiden series shares a significant connection with Xbox. However, Team Ninja has lately been more synonymous with PlayStation, especially after successes like Nioh and its sequel, Nioh 2, both of which skipped an Xbox release in favor of PlayStation and PC. While there was some relief with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty launching on Xbox, the studio’s other major commitment, Rise of the Ronin, remains exclusive to the PS5.

Rise of the Ronin aimed high with some innovative concepts, yet it stumbled by drawing the wrong lessons from Western open-world games. The result was an experience that neither appealed to fans familiar with Team Ninja’s trademark combat style nor satisfied those seeking a lighthearted samurai adventure.

Beyond this exciting new game, the entire Ninja Gaiden franchise seems to be experiencing a revival. A shining example of this was at the 2024 Game Awards where Dotemu, known for its retro-style games, revealed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound—a fresh 2D action adventure produced by the talented team that brought us the Blasphemous series.