Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja studio has been dropping hints about some exciting plans for their milestone 30th anniversary in 2025. As a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja is renowned for its iconic hack-and-slash action games, particularly the Ninja Gaiden franchise. The studio's other notable series, Dead or Alive, has been a staple in the fighting game community, although fans have been eagerly awaiting a new mainline entry since 2019.
In recent years, Team Ninja has expanded its portfolio by venturing into the action soulslike RPG genre. The Nioh series, set in the Edo period, has garnered acclaim for its challenging gameplay and rich setting. The studio's collaboration with Square Enix on Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin further showcased their prowess in this genre. Additionally, Team Ninja released Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a historical fantasy soulslike inspired by Chinese mythology, and the critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 exclusive, Rise of the Ronin, in 2024. As 2025 approaches, Team Ninja is teasing some ambitious projects to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
In a round-up of Japanese developer ambitions by 4Gamer.net (as reported by Gematsu), Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda hinted at the studio's plans. He expressed hopes to release titles that would be "fitting for the occasion." While specifics were not disclosed, speculation points towards potential new entries or significant updates to the Dead or Alive or Ninja Gaiden franchises. Yasuda stated, "In 2025, Team Ninja will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we hope to announce and release titles fitting for the occasion."
The excitement around Team Ninja's 30th anniversary was heightened with the announcement of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound at The Game Awards 2024. This new side-scrolling entry, developed in collaboration with Dot Emu, aims to merge the classic 8-bit gameplay and difficulty of the series with modern elements reminiscent of its 3D counterparts. The last mainline Ninja Gaiden game, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, released in 2014, was met with mixed reactions due to its zombie theme.
Meanwhile, the Dead or Alive franchise, which last saw a mainline fighting game with Dead or Alive 6 in 2019, has since been supported by 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 a new mainline entry to the series as part of their anniversary celebrations. Additionally, there is a strong desire among fans for the Nioh series to receive further attention in 2025.
As Team Ninja gears up for its 30th anniversary, the gaming community eagerly anticipates what the studio has in store. Whether it's a revival of classic franchises or new ventures in the soulslike genre, Team Ninja's plans are sure to be a highlight of 2025.
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