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 hinted at exciting developments for its milestone 30th anniversary in 2025. As a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja is renowned for its thrilling hack-and-slash action games, particularly the iconic Ninja Gaiden franchise. Another hallmark of the studio is the Dead or Alive fighting game series, though fans have been waiting for a new mainline entry since 2019.

In recent years, Team Ninja has expanded into the realm of action soulslike RPGs. The critically acclaimed Nioh series, set in the Edo period, has been a standout success. Further showcasing their versatility, Team Ninja partnered with Square Enix to create Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, a prequel to the Final Fantasy series, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a historical fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology. In 2024, they released Rise of the Ronin, a PlayStation 5 exclusive action RPG that garnered significant praise. As we approach 2025, Team Ninja teases its plans for the year, marking its 30th anniversary.

In an interview with 4Gamer.net, as reported by Gematsu, Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda shared insights into the studio's ambitions. He hinted at the release of titles that would be "fitting for the occasion." Though Yasuda remained vague about specifics, many speculate that these could involve Team Ninja's flagship franchises, Dead or Alive or Ninja Gaiden. "In 2025, Team Ninja will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we hope to announce and release titles fitting for the occasion," Yasuda stated.

Team Ninja's Potential Plans in 2025

Excitement is building around Ninja Gaiden's return in 2025, which was announced at The Game Awards 2024. Koei Tecmo and Dot Emu are collaborating on Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new side-scrolling game that promises to merge the series' classic 8-bit gameplay and challenging difficulty with modern elements inspired by its 3D counterparts. This comes after the last mainline entry, 2014's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, which divided fans with its zombie-themed twist.

The other beloved IP from Team Ninja, Dead or Alive, has not seen a new mainline fighting game since 2019's Dead or Alive 6. 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 eagerly anticipating news of a new Dead or Alive title to celebrate Team Ninja's 30th anniversary. Additionally, there is a strong desire among fans for further developments in the Nioh series.

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