Team Ninja’s long-held ambition to create a new Ninja Gaiden installment faced a hurdle: finding the right concept. This changed when Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames head Atsushi Inaba discussed the project, leading to Phil Spencer's involvement. Spencer proposed a collaborative effort between the three companies, a suggestion that ultimately brought Ninja Gaiden 4 to life.
Phil Spencer confirmed that discussions began as early as 2017, when he first approached Team Ninja about a potential sequel. Years of deliberation culminated in a perfect partnership: PlatinumGames, renowned for its fast-paced action titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata, joined the project.
The surprise announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 last week was accompanied by the unexpected release of Ninja Gaiden 2: Black, an enhanced version of the Xbox 360 classic, now available on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Initial trailers showcase Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist in this action-packed slasher. Gameplay footage reveals new mechanics, including swift traversal using wires and rails, setting Ninja Gaiden 4 apart from its predecessors.
While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated the Developer_Direct, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, the highly anticipated sequel from Koei Tecmo, also generated significant buzz. The game is slated for release in Fall 2025.
