So it’s been seven years since Ninja Gaiden 3, and the expanded and updated version Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge came out. You’re probably wondering if Ninja Gaiden 4 is ever going to be released. It’s sure about time for a new one, right? Well, here is everything we know so far.
When will Ninja Gaiden 4 be released?
Will there even be a Ninja Gaiden 4? It might happen, but at this rate, nowhere soon. We doubt that it will be available on the current-gen consoles PS4 or Xbox One, and if it does get released, it will be on the next-gen consoles.
Team Ninja, the division at Koei Tecmo (the Japanese game company behind the Ninja Gaiden series), has been busy with Dead or Alive and the Nioh series. So busy that they’ve released two sequels for the Dead or Alive series since Ninja Gaiden 3 last came out, and Nioh 2 is in the works.
To their (minor) credit, though, they have released a spinoff called Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, but this isn’t the true sequel fans have wanted for years.
It’s pretty much universally hated. Even the creative director of Team Ninja, Tom Lee, thought it wasn’t up to par:
Hayabusa… Zombies… Cel-shaded… just throwing a bunch of different things into that. We don’t wanna backpedal on our decisions, but it wasn’t the right move, I think.
Tom Lee
Some fans went so far as to say that they just slapped the Ninja Gaiden name on a terrible Hack and slash zombie game to milk it for whatever they could. Most would agree that a remaster of the last three games would have been a much better thing for Team Ninja to spend their time on. All that said, Lee also commented on the possibility of expanding the Ninja Gaiden series:
Maybe I can say that Nioh is a gateway into the next chapter for Ninja Gaiden. [Ninja Gaiden] is a very important, if not the most important franchise, for us. But at this point, I think this franchise needs to be in the shadows for a while until we bring it back. There will be a time, and when the time is right, we will get it back.
Maybe I can say that Nioh is a gateway into the next chapter for Ninja Gaiden. [Ninja Gaiden] is a very important, if not the most important franchise, for us. But at this point I think this franchise needs to be in the shadows for a while until we bring it back. There will be a time, and when the time is right, we will bring it back.
Tom Lee
Big emphasis on the “maybe” and nothing specific on Ninja Gaiden 4. Take from that what you will.
Latest Ninja Gaiden 4 rumors
So to date, there hasn’t been anything officially said, let alone a release date announced or trailer shown. But, interestingly enough, the European division of the company tweeted on January 2, 2019, a pic of Ryu Hayabusa and said that “2019 is going to be a banger for games! Here at the Koei Tecmo Family we might just have a few surprises for you too!”
Was this is a hint that Ninja Gaiden 4 is coming? Probably not, on account of the facepalm that followed when explicitly asked about Ninja Gaiden 4…
Ouch. Anyway, if something comes up, we will be the first to keep you updated, so stick around.