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. Spencer proposed a collaborative effort between the three companies, a suggestion that ultimately brought Ninja Gaiden 4 to life.

Spencer confirmed discussions began as early as 2017, when he initially approached Team Ninja about a potential sequel. Years of deliberation culminated in a perfect partnership with PlatinumGames, renowned for its expertise in fast-paced action games like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata.

The surprise announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 last week was accompanied by the unexpected release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remastered version of the Xbox 360 classic, now available on Xbox, PlayStation 5, 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, the reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4—a highly anticipated addition to Koei Tecmo’s acclaimed series—generated significant buzz. The game is slated for release in Fall 2025.