Ninja Gaiden 4 is slated to launch next week, but the game has already sparked widespread discontent. The series’ comeback has ignited unexpected debates within the community.
The release is scheduled for October 21, 2025. The new installment revives the franchise after a lengthy hiatus and will arrive on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
Trouble began when some players received physical copies ahead of the official launch. Plot details leaked online, including one particularly controversial claim — that Ryu Hayabusa appears in only 20% of the campaign.
According to discussions on ResetEra, Ryu is playable in just five chapters, some of which are essentially boss encounters. Hayabusa has long been the face of the series. “Why bring back Ninja Gaiden if you can’t play as Ryu?” fans demand.
The protagonist is now Yakumo, a young warrior who acquires five weapon types over the course of the story and ultimately masters Ryu’s techniques, augmented with new attacks. Many argue the developers have turned him into an “upgraded copy” of the original hero, thereby diminishing the franchise’s legacy.
Ryu does appear in additional modes — Ninja Trials and Chapter Challenge — but the community regards this as scant consolation. Criticism has poured in toward PlatinumGames and Team Ninja, accusing them of having “lost the spirit of the original.”
Source: iXBT.games