30 Years of Team Ninja: Anniversary Spectacular Unveiled

Team Ninja's 30th Anniversary: Big Plans on the Horizon

Team Ninja, the Koei Tecmo subsidiary famed for Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, has hinted at significant projects to commemorate its 30th anniversary in 2025. While renowned for its action-packed franchises, Team Ninja's recent successes include the soulslike RPG series Nioh, and collaborations with Square Enix on titles like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. The studio also released the critically acclaimed Rise of the Ronin in 2024.

In a recent interview (via 4Gamer.net and Gematsu), Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda alluded to upcoming releases "fitting for the occasion." While details remain scarce, the statement fuels speculation about new entries in the Dead or Alive or Ninja Gaiden series.

Team Ninja's 2025 Possibilities:

The anticipation is palpable, particularly given the recent announcement at The Game Awards 2024: a new side-scrolling Ninja Gaiden title, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed in collaboration with Dot Emu, this game promises a blend of classic 8-bit gameplay and modern enhancements, bridging the gap between the series' retro roots and its 3D iterations. The last mainline Ninja Gaiden release was 2014's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z.

Meanwhile, Dead or Alive fans eagerly await a new mainline installment, the last being 2019's Dead or Alive 6. Recent releases have been limited to spin-offs. The anniversary presents a prime opportunity for a significant new entry. Similarly, a new Nioh installment is also a strong possibility for many fans. The year 2025 promises exciting developments from this celebrated studio.