After 13 years, the wait is over: Ninja Gaiden 4 is finally coming. During Microsoft’s recent Developer Direct presentation, Team Ninja (in collaboration with Platinum Games) spilled the beans about this long-awaited sequel, promising just as much bloody action as the original trilogy. Judging from the trailer alone, it looks like the game will come through on those promises tenfold, retaining the series’ reputation for being fast, intense, and challenging.
Ninja Gaiden 4 New Protagonist and Gameplay
Ninja Gaiden 4 is set in Tokyo, which has been overcome by a supernatural rainstorm, corrupting its streets and citizens. It’s dark, moody, and cyber punk-esque, with some immediately memorable vistas. For this adventure, players will control a new protagonist, Yakumo, who is on his way to achieving the rank of Master Ninja. Don’t worry, Ryu is still around and involved with the plot, but he seems to be taking a back seat for the majority of the gameplay.
With this new protagonist, Team Ninja and Platinum Games are promising faster combat than ever before, with new weapon styles, harder enemies, and brutal one-on-one boss fights. Like Ryu, Yakumo is pretty agile, so levels have been designed with notable verticality, encouraging players to explore and find hidden collectibles. Only time will tell if this protagonist is just as enjoyable to control as Ryu, but we have faith in Platinum Games.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Release Date and Platforms
Currently, there’s no exact release date for Ninja Gaiden 4, beyond a rough “Fall 2025” window. We expect that more information will pop up during the summer months, likely during Microsoft’s big yearly presentation. Either way, Game Pass subscribers will be able to enjoy Ninja Gaiden 4 on day 1, something I’ll definitely be looking forward to.
Ninja Gaiden 4 will be releasing on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and PC, and should be available sometime later this year. My guess is early-to-mid October, but we’ll just have to wait and see.