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

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 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 in collaboration with PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 is the latest mainline entry in the series, marking a 13-year gap since Ninja Gaiden 3 was released in 2012. The game is a direct sequel to Ninja Gaiden 3 and will continue the series' tradition of featuring highly challenging yet deeply satisfying gameplay.

The reveal at an Xbox event comes as no surprise, given the company's long-standing relationship with Team Ninja. This relationship includes exclusive releases of games from the Dead or Alive franchise on Xbox and Xbox 360, and Ninja Gaiden 2 being 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. Yakumo seeks 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 insights about the new game, saying, "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." Fans who prefer the original main protagonist can rest assured that Ryu Hayabusa remains playable, with his prowess and presence deeply felt throughout Ninja Gaiden 4.

Ninja Gaiden 4 New Combat Style

Ninja Gaiden 4 promises fast-paced combat at breakneck speeds, maintaining 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, explained 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 emphasized 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 currently 70-80% complete and has entered the polishing phase, according to Nakao. More information will be released to further explain the game's details. Yasuda reiterated that Ninja Gaiden 4 is an action game at heart, and they are eager to provide fans with opportunities to experience it hands-on.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Coming Fall 2025

Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to be released in Fall 2025, as announced in their trailer. In an Xbox Wire interview, Yasuda shared his thoughts on the upcoming game, expressing 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 will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. It will launch as a day one Xbox Game Pass title and is available for wishlist today. For more information about the game, visit our NINJA GAIDEN 4 page.

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. It is also included in Xbox Game Pass. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black features 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 mentioned that the team "wanted to give players something to enjoy as they wait for the release of NINJA GAIDEN 4." He 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."

For more information about the game, check out our NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black page.