Ninja Gaiden Series Reborn Courtesy of Phil Spencer

Team Ninja's long-awaited Ninja Gaiden 4 is finally in development, thanks to a collaborative effort between Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo, and PlatinumGames. Producer Fumihiko Yasuda revealed that the project had been in the works for years, hampered by a lack of a concrete concept. The collaboration was initiated after discussions between Koei Tecmo's Hisashi Koinuma, PlatinumGames' Atsushi Inaba, and Xbox's Phil Spencer, who suggested a joint venture.

Spencer confirmed that initial talks began as early as 2017. The partnership with PlatinumGames, renowned for its action titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata, proved to be the key to unlocking the game's potential.

The surprise announcement last week was accompanied by the unexpected release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remastered version of the Xbox 360 classic, now available on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Early trailers showcase Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist, promising a thrilling action-slasher experience. Gameplay footage highlights new mechanics, including agile traversal using wires and rails, setting it apart from previous installments.

While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated the Developer_Direct event, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4 generated significant buzz. The game is slated for release in Fall 2025.