Summary
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a remastered version of the game using Unreal Engine 5.
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has been shadow dropped for Xbox Game Pass.
- The Xbox Developer Direct also featured the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4, which is coming to Game Pass this fall.
During the Xbox Developer Direct, it was announced that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has been shadow dropped for Xbox Game Pass. The Ninja Gaiden franchise has been closely tied to the Xbox brand since 2004's Ninja Gaiden reboot was released as an Xbox exclusive. Four years later, Ninja Gaiden 2 was released as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but since then, the franchise has largely been multi-platform.
An enhanced version of Ninja Gaiden 2, called Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, was eventually made for the PS3, with that version eventually brought to other platforms as well, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. Now Ninja Gaiden 2 has made a comeback yet again, with the newest version of the game readily available to play on Xbox Game Pass as of today.
Ninja Gaiden 4 - Official Announcement Trailer
The first trailer shown at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct was for Ninja Gaiden 4, and you can watch it right here.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has been announced and shadow dropped, with the game's graphics given a significant upgrade using Unreal Engine 5. Promised to be the "definitive version" of the Ninja Gaiden 2 experience, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black includes all the bonus content released for the game, including "additional playable characters" and "enhanced battle support functions." Ninja Gaiden fans on PC and Xbox Series X can check out Ninja Gaiden 2 Black through their Game Pass Ultimate subscription today. At the time of this writing, it's unclear if Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is also going to be available for PlayStation.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is Now on Xbox Game Pass
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is just one of the huge Ninja Gaiden announcements that came out of the Xbox Developer Direct. During the show, it was also confirmed that Ninja Gaiden 4 is in development, with the game made as part of a collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. Like Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a day one Xbox Game Pass game. Ninja Gaiden 4 will also be coming to PS5, though a specific release date has not been announced beyond a fall 2025 release window.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ninja Gaiden 4 alone would make 2025 a massive year for the franchise, but there's even more to look forward to. As some may recall, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is also in the works, serving as a throwback of sorts to the franchise's NES days. Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is also on deck for 2025, so assuming there are no delays, franchise fans should have three fresh titles to play by the time the year comes to a close.
- Released
- June 3, 2008
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Engine
- DOA4
WHERE TO PLAY
The fine line between honor and vengeance will be crossed by one.
Killer Gaming - Built from the ground up by Team Ninja for Xbox 360, this is the very best in breathtaking, realistic visuals, responsive control and thrilling combat.
Fast and Fluid - Featuring a new auto-healing and save-point system and an extensive story with multiple difficulty levels. Ideal for casual players and challenging enough for the most demanding, serious gamers.
Agile, Acrobatic and Deadly - Experience an all-new combat system requiring skill and mastery of a full arsenal of weapons and moves including brutal new primary weapons as well as enhanced versions of previous favorites.
- Franchise
- Ninja Gaiden
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 30 hours
