Watch out, Ninjas are everywhere because the folks at Team Ninja have made a shocking reveal that the famous Ninja Gaiden series is making a big return with two new games!
During the Xbox Developer Direct, it was announced that gaming’s most famous ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, will be returning to the homes of millions with a brand-new entry in his beloved series, titled Ninja Gaiden 4, as well as a remaster of one of his most popular games, Ninja Gaiden II Black. The remastered version will be released immediately on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, while the fourth entry is being aimed at a Fall 2025 release. While the announcement of these games has many fans hoping that both games will become classics for years to come, many are worried due to some controversy from an Xbox trailer posted to YouTube.
The release trailer for Ninja Gaiden 4 shows exciting gameplay such as grinding on rails to avoid subway trains, piloting a motorcycle down what looks to be a neon-lit collapsing bridge, as well as defeating different monsters in an over-the-top manner that the franchise is well known for. The newest entry will also feature a new younger ninja named Yakumo. The premise so far seems very true to the series’ origins and seems like a positive “next step” for the franchise that has fans excited! However, it is the remaster of Ninja Gaiden II Black that has garnered some caution among gamers and long-time players.
The trailer for the remastered Ninja Gaiden II Black featured brief cutaways with the game’s female characters during the PlayStation trailer, however, the version posted by the Xbox YouTube channel strangely omitted the lovely ladies. While many are tired of debates throughout the gaming industry and want to get back to the nature of escape in gaming worlds, many long-time fans are afraid of censorship of their beloved ninjas.
A screenshot from the trailer to Ninja Gaiden 4 – YouTube, IGN
The series’ female characters—Ayane, Momiji, Kasumi, and Rachel—are known for being pretty and “all kinds of cool,” slaying their foes with swords, daggers, and magical weapons. Each one of these girls looks like a supermodel, which has inspired many cosplays and fan art at conventions and fan gatherings across the globe. The girls are iconic and this creative decision is what adds to the charm of the games for many fans. However, the new and controversial Xbox trailer now has many players worried that the ladies’ design and costumes have been altered due to a trend starting primarily in the 2010s that saw less stylized characters, particularly across many Western game studios. This often resulted in dwindling sales figures.
One cutscene, in particular, from the remaster shows that one of the non-playable characters is wearing a less revealing outfit during an encounter with the game’s monsters. A closer look shows that many of the game’s other background characters also have different outfits, which could have been a stylistic choice. Various gameplay footage by fans who have played the remaster has shown that the girls’ various costumes have remained intact and true to their original vision, with many fans even praising how amazing these characters look with next-gen technology. While there has been some valid debate on differences that could be seen as censorship in body portrayals and proportions when compared to the original versions, fans also speculate that the changes could instead be due to either the new creative style or perhaps the engine the game runs on.
A screenshot from the trailer to Ninja Gaiden 4 – YouTube, IGN
Many costumes featured can be seen as very revealing compared to most games in the industry and more recent entries that Team Ninja has published over the past few years.
Team Ninja, the studio behind classics such as Ninja Gaiden, Hyrule Warriors, and Dead or Alive, has had a complicated history, to say the least. The studio is known for games out of the 80s that are hard as nails, games of the 2000s with stylish and beautiful women, and intense gameplay throughout their decades as a developer. The company is by all means a tried-and-true video game studio, with its over-the-top nature being a major factor that has continued to set them apart from the competition. However, while the studio has built a brand of cool, attractive ninjas, they have also been the subject of some questionable choices over the years, particularly regarding the localization of some of their more popular titles in the West. This could be considered more daring, leading to hesitation in localizing them—much to the dismay of many gamers longing for a return of many aspects of gaming culture from years past.
A screenshot from the trailer to Ninja Gaiden 4 – YouTube, IGN
Team Ninja’s lack of applying the same standards in content featured in the West as opposed to their games in the East has sparked some controversy. There has been discussion among many fans on social media sites like X about whether a game with design changes that affect a character’s appeal can still be considered faithful to its roots or is a betrayal of their fanbase. Some fans are celebrating the announcements due to the game’s use of bold action and outfits that would put Venice Beach to shame, while others are tired of censorship in Western releases. Some have argued that the creative choices justify new proportions or clothing for certain characters, but other players are viewing the changes, no matter how subtle, as yet another example of unnecessary censorship.
Have you ever played any of the Ninja Gaiden games? Did you know that Ryu Hayabusa is playable in the Dead or Alive games as they share a universe? Did you ever manage to beat the annoying bird enemies back in the 1980s in his debut games? Sound off in the comments below and check out more That Park Place articles for all the news that should be fun!
