Team Ninja has released a statement celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. Studio head Fumihiko Yasuda declared 2025 to be the Year of the Ninja since it sees the release of three titles in the series: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.
Celebrating the anniversary that took place over the weekend, he talks about how March 2, 2004, saw the release of the original Ninja Gaiden on Xbox.
“2025 marks the ‘Year of the NINJA,’ and to kick things off, we released the graphical remaster Ninja Gaiden 2 Black in January,” said Yasuda. “Coming later this year is Ninja Gaiden 4, a new mainline entry and collaborative effort with Xbox Game Studios and PlatinumGames. We will also bring you Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound courtesy of Dotemu and The Game Kitchen. Please stay tuned for new information regarding each of these exciting new titles.”
“We cherish the distinct qualities of this series and the feeling of performing high-speed ninja abilities to defeat mercilessly oppressive enemies. The games we deliver will stay true to these qualities and provide a thrilling experience for devoted fans and new players interested in cutting their teeth on the franchise’s signature ninja action.”
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was stealth dropped alongside its announcement back in January. Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game is a remastered version of the seminal Ninja Gaiden 2, developed on Unreal Engine 5. Yasuda revealed during the announcement that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black “is crafted to satisfy both those who played the original and newcomers discovering it as a current-generation action game.”
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black allows players to take on the role of series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa, as well as other characters like Ayane, Momiji and Rachel, as they take on the main story. It also includes features we last saw in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Check out our review for more details.
Alongside the remaster, Team Ninja had also unveiled Ninja Gaiden 4. Slated for release in Fall 2025 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, it’s developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. Its story will feature a new protagonist, the Raven Clan’s Yakumo, who must deal with the chaos left by the husk of the Dark Dragon. Ryu Hayabusa is also playable, and Team Ninja has said he will play a “pivotal” role in the game.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had revealed back in January that talks with Team Ninja for the development of Ninja Gaiden 4 had started “six or seven years ago.”
The third title in the franchise coming out this year on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed by the studio behind metroidvania title Blasphemous, it’s a sidescroller that puts players in the shoes of Ryu Hayabusa and newcomer Keiji Mozu to take on demons in America.
Happy 21st anniversary!#NINJAGAIDEN pic.twitter.com/6tX2agjs7s
— Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) March 2, 2025
