Team Ninja Celebrates 30 Years: Anniversary Plans Revealed

Summary

Team Ninja is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025 with big plans. Beyond the iconic Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises, the studio has a history of successful action RPGs, including the Nioh series and collaborations like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Speculation is high regarding what exciting releases Team Ninja might unveil this year.

Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja, renowned for its action-packed games, is gearing up for a significant milestone: its 30th anniversary. Famous for the Ninja Gaiden franchise and the Dead or Alive fighting game series (though the latter hasn't seen a new mainline entry since 2019), Team Ninja has also expanded its portfolio in recent years. The Nioh series, a critically acclaimed soulslike set in the Edo period, exemplifies this expansion. Further collaborations with Square Enix, resulting in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and a Chinese mythology-inspired title, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, showcase the studio's versatility. The 2024 release of the PlayStation 5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin, another well-received action RPG, further solidified their success. As 2025 marks their 30th anniversary, Team Ninja has hinted at exciting upcoming releases.

In a 4Gamer.net interview (as reported by Gematsu), Fumihiko Yasuda of Team Ninja hinted at plans for the anniversary, promising titles "fitting for the occasion." While details remain scarce, anticipation is high for potential new entries in either 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."

Team Ninja's Potential 2025 Plans

One highly anticipated project is the return of Ninja Gaiden in 2025, announced at The Game Awards 2024. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a collaboration with DotEmu, promises a side-scrolling adventure blending classic 8-bit gameplay with modern elements, bridging the gap between the series' retro roots and its 3D iterations. The last mainline entry, 2014's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, remains a divisive title.

The other major franchise, Dead or Alive, hasn't seen a new mainline game since 2019's Dead or Alive 6, with only spin-offs released since then. Fans eagerly await a new installment to celebrate the anniversary. Similarly, there is considerable fan interest in a potential new Nioh title.