Early Preview: Ninja Gaiden 4 Reestablishes Series’ Reputation with Intense Action

A preview of the opening stages of Ninja Gaiden 4, provided through the Xbox Insider Program, suggests a return to form for the acclaimed action franchise. The game, co-developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, is slated for release on October 21, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms.

The demo encompassed the prologue and first chapter, showcasing a collaboration intended to revitalize both development studios. While PlatinumGames has faced recent challenges with projects like Babylon’s Fall, and prior installments haven’t consistently met expectations, Ninja Gaiden 4 appears poised to demonstrate the strengths of both teams. Team Ninja’s reputation for demanding combat mechanics is combined with PlatinumGames’ signature stylistic flair and responsive gameplay feel.

Players controlled Yakumo, a new protagonist capable of executing light and heavy attacks, combining them into varied combos while retaining iconic moves from past Ninja Gaiden titles like the Flying Swallow and Izuna Drop. The game retains staples such as shuriken throws and powerful ultimate attacks. Success in combat relies on strategic defense and counter-attacks; the standard difficulty presents a significant challenge even for experienced players.

The initial chapter introduces a distinct science-fiction aesthetic, contrasting with the series’ traditional settings, while maintaining familiar level design principles featuring a main path alongside opportunities for exploration and hidden rewards. PlatinumGames’ visual expertise is apparent in the game’s detailed environments that prioritize clarity during intense encounters. Preliminary performance on Xbox Series X indicates a stable 60 frames per second; however, optimization across all platforms remains to be fully evaluated. A lower-framerate graphical setting exists, but it’s not recommended given the fast-paced nature of the gameplay.