The Ninja Gaiden franchise is back thanks to Phil Spencer

Team Ninja’s long-held ambition to create a new Ninja Gaiden installment faced a hurdle: finding the right concept. This changed when Koei Tecmo president Hisashi Koinuma and PlatinumGames head Atsushi Inaba discussed the project, leading to Phil Spencer's involvement. His suggestion of a collaborative effort between the three companies finally unlocked development.

Spencer confirmed discussions dating back to 2017, when he initially approached Team Ninja about a sequel. Years of deliberation culminated in a perfect partnership with PlatinumGames, renowned for their expertise in fast-paced action titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.

Last week's announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 was accompanied by a surprise: the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an enhanced version of the Xbox 360 classic, on Xbox, PS5, and PC.

Initial trailers showcase Ryu Hayabusa as the protagonist in this action-packed slasher. Gameplay footage reveals new mechanics, including swift traversal using wires and rails, setting Ninja Gaiden 4 apart from its predecessors.

While DOOM: The Dark Ages dominated the Developer_Direct, Ninja Gaiden 4 emerged as a significant highlight. Koei Tecmo’s anticipated sequel is slated for a Fall 2025 release.