Ninja Gaiden 4: Everything We Know

Not only did we recently receive Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2, as well as the announcement of the upcoming Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new side-scrolling entry from the Blasphemous team set to release in the third quarter of 2025, but we’ll also soon be Izuna Dropping in a brand-new entry in the legendary Ninja Gaiden series with Ninja Gaiden 4. 

Even more exciting is the fact that we’ve been waiting for a new entry in the classic series for 13 years now. It’s a testament that no matter how long it takes, your favorite classics will eventually return, or at least we hope that they do. Meanwhile, Platinum Games will be taking up the mantle for the development of the new entry, which with their extensive experience with fantastic action games, only further adds to the excitement. 

We may have only caught wind of the announcement that Ninja Gaiden 4 is on the way, but please find below the summary of all the details we know so far.

What is Ninja Gaiden 4?

Ninja Gaiden 4 is an upcoming action-adventure game in the Ninja Gaiden series. The first game in the series was released in 1988 for the arcade. Thereafter, the series’ tight action platforming and heart-pounding music score spun several titles. However, the last mainline entry was in 2012, leaving fans eager to get their hands on the next one. 

Well, after a long wait, Team Ninja is ready to bring back the series in collaboration with industry giant Platinum Games. They plan to reinstate the franchise’s invigorating adventure among the best action-adventure games using modern graphics and controls. However, the series’ fast-paced DNA and frenetic combat will remain intact, fulfilling every fan’s desire to jump back into the action they love. 

Story

Ninja Gaiden 4’s story continues the theme of chaos unleashed on near-future Tokyo. After a heavy downpour of cursed rain, the city is plunged into mayhem. Otherworldly creatures and cybernetic enemies crawl through the city. Meanwhile, an ancient enemy returns, going up against the protagonist, a young ninja prodigy called Yakumo. 

However, it seems Yakumo’s journey is interconnected with Ninja Gaiden’s original protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa. Their destinies will collide as Yakumo tries to restore peace and order to Tokyo. It’s unclear whether you’ll be able to control Yakumo as well as Master Hayabusa. Either way, the two seem like their paths will cross and possibly lead to a spectacle fight. 

Gameplay

As for the gameplay, Ninja Gaiden 4 plans to remain faithful to its roots. It’ll still retain the fast-paced, highly energetic combat the legendary series is known for. However, the graphics and controls will receive a leg up, aiming to cater to a new contemporary audience, too.

You can look forward to intense hack-and-slash combat. It’ll be quite similar to the original Team Ninja’s style. However, Platinum Games plans to bring their own unique touch to the battle system, too, introducing stylish and dynamic play. 

Visually, Ninja Gaiden 4 aims to knock the ball out of the park. The game will uphold precision and strategy, alongside using the Bloodbind Ninjutsu weapon system to engage players. Meanwhile, you can look forward to returning classic moves like Flying Swallow and the Izuna Drop. 

Ryu Hayabusa will be returning in Ninja Gaiden 4. While his moves will be largely familiar to fans of the series, they’ve also been treated to a revamp. All in all, you’ll be free to customize your player’s skills and abilities to match your play style. There’ll also be exciting twists and turns to look forward to. 

Development

At the forefront of the development of Ninja Gaiden 4 is none other than Platinum Games. They are collaborating with Team Ninja, as well as publisher Xbox Game Studios, to resurrect the legendary action series. 

Platinum Games is a Japanese developing studio that has worked on quite a ton of showstopping games, from Bayonetta to Astra Chain and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Team Ninja, on the other hand, is also a Japanese developer most known for Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, and Nioh.

Trailer

During the Xbox Developer Direct showcase in January 2025, Team Ninja and Platinum Games revealed the development of Ninja Gaiden 4 via the first official announcement trailer.

In addition to nifty details about the story, we also have the pleasure of checking out some of the enemies and combat we’ll be engaging with. Set in an abandoned near-future Tokyo, chaos still ensues with roaming monster creatures and cybernetic ninja soldiers. However, a new hero arises, sworn to restore peace and order to the society. 

Years back, the Dark Dragon, the youngest of the Divine Dragon Gods, infiltrated Earth, causing mayhem and destruction. However, you thwarted the Dark Dragon, leaving behind its husk, which led to a mysterious rainfall that instigated a new threat to the city’s survival. In the trailer, the new protagonist infiltrates a facility on a mission.

He goes head-to-head with different enemy types, hacking and slashing their body parts to bits. However, you also come face-to-face with the OG Hyabusa himself. He seems to be standing in the way of completing your mission, leading to a supercharged battle between them. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

It’s official. Ninja Gaiden 4 will be coming a lot sooner than you think. Team Ninja and Platinum Games have confirmed that the title should launch in the Fall of 2025. Moreover, they confirm that it’ll be accessible on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC platforms. 

At present, you can add the game to your wishlist on Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation store. That way, you can be kept in the loop of the development progress. Also, Xbox Game Pass subscribers should be able to access the game as soon as it comes out. 

As for the editions, the development team has yet to reveal any details on it or the pre-order price for that matter. Still, feel free to keep track of new announcements on the game’s official social media handle here.