The Ninja Gaiden franchise is set to make a major return. After having not received a new mainline entry since 2012, the Ninja Gaiden franchise is set to make its return in 2025 with Ninja Gaiden 4. This announcement comes courtesy of the latest Xbox Developer Direct, where Microsoft showed off the game alongside new footage of titles like DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
While this project will once again be the work of longtime developer Team Ninja, it will also be co-developed by PlatinumGames. This is the first time PlatinumGames will be handling a Ninja Gaiden project, and the developer looks to carry over its excellent action gameplay from titles like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata when crafting this game. Set for release late this year, Ninja Gaiden 4 will also have a major ace up its sleeve that should help it find major success.
How the Ninja Gaiden Franchise is Fighting a War on Two Fronts
It's been over a decade since the last Ninja Gaiden game released, and now the franchise is getting ready to take the gaming world on two fronts.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Could Be The Most Popular Entry Yet
Ninja Gaiden 4 Comes To Game Pass On Day One
Ninja Gaiden 4, unlike previous titles in the series that were published by Koei Tecmo, will be a first-party title published by Xbox Game Studios. Thus, its standing as a first-party game means that it will be available on Xbox Game Pass on its launch day. Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service which provides gamers with a library of hundreds of titles for a monthly total.
Microsoft has made it so that many first-party titles it releases - including titles from autonomous publishers it owns such as Bethesda and Activision - are available on Game Pass at launch. This means gamers will be able to play the publisher’s major titles at launch without having to pay a $70 premium for them. With Ninja Gaiden 4 being published by Microsoft, that same principle will apply to it.
Ninja Gaiden 4’s Game Pass Release Opens It To A Wide Audience
Ninja Gaiden 4 being available on Game Pass is a huge blessing for the title. As exciting as it is that this franchise is getting a proper return for the first time in over a decade, it’s an even bigger deal that a larger playerbase will get the chance to play it without paying a major upcharge. Even as Xbox Game Pass has increased its price as of late, the overall value of the subscription makes it a deal worth having, and Ninja Gaiden 4 will be a great addition to its massive library.
Microsoft also seems to be creating some extra hype around the Ninja Gaiden franchise before its arrival. Alongside the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 was the news of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2 that was released on the same day as its announcement and also showed up on Xbox Game Pass. This is a great way for Microsoft to excite longtime fans and bring in new fans to create more hype for Ninja Gaiden 4.
As exciting as it is that this franchise is getting a proper return for the first time in over a decade, it’s an even bigger deal that a larger playerbase will get the chance to play it without paying a major upcharge.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Sits Alongside The Rest Of The Franchise On Game Pass
Ninja Gaiden 4’s arrival on Game Pass will also be great for fans looking to experience the franchise in a big way. Beyond Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is available on Game Pass, which offers the previous three Ninja Gaiden games in their reworked versions. Adding Ninja Gaiden 4 on top of that gives fans the opportunity to experience Ninja Gaiden in its entirety before jumping into the new game.
Ninja Gaiden 4 seeing a release on Xbox Game Pass is a great move for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Offering the first major entry in over a decade to the subscription services opens the game up to pull in a massive playerbase, and its standing alongside the other titles in the series gives fans a well-rounded Ninja Gaiden experience. Here’s hoping this new entry lives up to its promise and becomes one of Game Pass’s biggest titles in 2025.
Ninja Gaiden 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- October 21, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games, Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow.
The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
