Team Ninja's 30th Anniversary: Big Plans on the Horizon
Team Ninja, the Koei Tecmo subsidiary renowned for its action-packed titles like Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, has hinted at significant projects to commemorate its 30th anniversary in 2025. Beyond these flagship franchises, the studio has also garnered acclaim for its foray into action RPGs, notably the Nioh series and collaborations with Square Enix (Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty). The recent release of Rise of the Ronin further solidified their position in the action RPG genre.
In a recent interview (via 4Gamer.net and Gematsu), Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda alluded to upcoming releases designed to befittingly mark this milestone. While details remain scarce, speculation centers on potential new entries in the Dead or Alive or Ninja Gaiden series. Yasuda simply stated, "In 2025, Team Ninja will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we hope to announce and release titles fitting for the occasion."
Team Ninja's 2025 Possibilities:
The anticipation is already high, fueled by the December 2024 Game Awards announcement of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. This new side-scrolling title, a collaboration with DotEmu, promises a blend of classic 8-bit Ninja Gaiden gameplay and modern enhancements, bridging the gap between the series' origins and its 3D iterations. The last mainline Ninja Gaiden entry was 2014's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, a title that proved divisive among fans.
Meanwhile, the Dead or Alive franchise, last seen with a mainline release in 2019 (Dead or Alive 6), has only seen spin-offs since then. Many fans eagerly await a new mainline entry to celebrate the studio's anniversary. Furthermore, the Nioh series also holds a place in fans' hopes for a celebratory release. The coming year promises exciting reveals from Team Ninja.
