Phil Spencer Revives Ninja Gaiden Franchise

According to Team Ninja producer Fumihiko Yasuda, the studio has long harbored ambitions to craft a new entry in the Ninja Gaiden series. However, they struggled to settle on a compelling concept. The breakthrough came when Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames head Atsushi Inaba began discussing the project. Phil Spencer of Xbox soon joined the conversation, suggesting a collaborative effort between the three companies to bring the vision to life.

Spencer revealed that these discussions had been ongoing since 2017, starting with his initial talks with Team Ninja about a potential sequel. After years of deliberation, the perfect partner was found in PlatinumGames, renowned for their expertise in fast-paced action games such as Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.

Last week, the much-anticipated Ninja Gaiden 4 was announced, thrilling fans of the series. Alongside this announcement, a re-release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an enhanced version of the Xbox 360 classic, was unexpectedly made available on Xbox, PS5, and PC platforms.

The first trailer for Ninja Gaiden 4 showcases the iconic ninja Ryu Hayabusa in a leading role, promising an action-packed experience. The gameplay trailer further revealed that this new installment will introduce innovative mechanics, such as the ability to swiftly navigate through environments using wires and rails, features not seen in previous entries of the series.

While DOOM: The Dark Ages was the main highlight for many at Developer_Direct, Ninja Gaiden 4 also stole the spotlight. This eagerly awaited sequel from Koei Tecmo is set to launch in the fall of 2025, marking a significant return for the beloved franchise.