Team Ninja Teases 30th Anniversary Plans

Summary

• Team Ninja teases big plans for its 30th anniversary.
• Beyond Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, the studio has developed other successful soulslike RPGs, including the Nioh series and collaborations with Square Enix.
• Fans speculate what releases could be coming in 2025 from Team Ninja.

Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja studio has teased some exciting plans for the developer's milestone 30th anniversary. As a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja is renowned for its hack-and-slash action games, particularly the iconic Ninja Gaiden franchise. The studio is also celebrated for its Dead or Alive fighting game series, though fans have been eagerly awaiting a new mainline entry since the release of Dead or Alive 6 in 2019.

In recent years, Team Ninja has expanded its portfolio to include action-packed soulslike RPGs. The Nioh series, set in the Edo period, has been a standout success in this genre. Additionally, Team Ninja collaborated with Square Enix on the Final Fantasy prequel, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and developed Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a historical fantasy soulslike inspired by Chinese mythology. The studio's latest release, the PlayStation 5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin, launched in 2024 and received widespread critical acclaim. As we approach 2025, Team Ninja has hinted at its plans for the year, coinciding with the studio's 30th anniversary.

In a round-up of Japanese developer ambitions by 4Gamer.net (as reported by Gematsu), Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda discussed the studio's upcoming projects. He expressed the team's desire to release titles that are "fitting for the occasion." While Yasuda remained vague about the specifics, speculation suggests that Team Ninja might focus on its flagship franchises, Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden. Yasuda 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 Potential Plans in 2025

Ninja Gaiden is set to make a comeback in 2025, as announced at The Game Awards 2024 in December. Koei Tecmo and Dot Emu are collaborating on Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new side-scrolling entry that aims to merge the series' classic 8-bit gameplay and challenging difficulty with modern elements reminiscent of the 3D entries. The last mainline Ninja Gaiden game, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, released in 2014, was a controversial zombie-themed title.

Meanwhile, the Dead or Alive franchise has not seen a new mainline fighting game since Dead or Alive 6 in 2019. Recent releases have been limited to spin-offs like Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet and Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme. Fans are hopeful that Team Ninja will bring new life to Dead or Alive for the studio's 30th anniversary. Additionally, there is anticipation for further developments in the Nioh series.

As Team Ninja gears up for its 30th anniversary, the gaming community eagerly awaits announcements that could shape the future of these beloved franchises.