Ninja Gaiden 4: What’s New, What’s Expected, What Fans Are Talking About

After over a decade of silence, Ninja Gaiden 4 is officially returning, and this time it’s under a collaborative spotlight: Team Ninja is working alongside PlatinumGames, with publishing by Xbox Game Studios. The game is confirmed to release on October 21, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam / Microsoft Store). It will also be available day one via Game Pass on Xbox platforms.

One of the biggest changes: Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces a new protagonist, Yakumo, who is from the Raven clan. Meanwhile, the iconic Ryu Hayabusa returns but plays more of a supporting role. Yakumo’s combat includes a “Bloodraven Form” that augments his attacks and weapon behavior, which apparently went through significant balancing during development to avoid trivializing the game.

From hands-on previews, the game leans into a hybrid of classic Ninja Gaiden mechanics and Platinum-style flair. Expect fast slashes, visceral gore, finishing moves, and a “rage mode” or powered-up execution that can instantly kill some foes. There’s also instant weapon switching, aggressive enemy behavior, and new movement mechanics like wall-runs and aerial traversal that emphasize fluidity.

Technically, it supports high framerate modes. On Xbox Series X and PS5, you can opt for 120 FPS mode (with some tradeoffs in visual fidelity) or stick with more detailed graphics at 60 FPS.

A core theme repeated by directors Yuji Nakao and Masakazu Hirayama is “fairness in difficulty” — enemies are meant to be on a more even footing with the player, so deaths should feel earned, not cheap. Nakao says: “If the player gets killed unreasonably, it’s hard for them to reflect and think about what they could’ve done.” The aim is to preserve the punishing identity of Ninja Gaiden while making the challenge more “just.”

On the business side, the collaboration was essential. PlatinumGames brought action design experience; Team Ninja ensured legacy DNA and technical precision. The co-development was not without friction — parts like balancing Yakumo’s Bloodraven Form required rework. The IP remains under Koei Tecmo, which also had a hand in oversight.

In recent sad news, Tomonobu Itagaki, a key figure historically associated with the Ninja Gaiden franchise, has passed away at the age of 58. Hours before his death, he posted a “Last Words” message reflecting on his life as a game creator. Some fans speculate it casts a poignant shadow over this next chapter for the series.