Nioh 2 is just around the corner, and based on our recent hands-on with the brutal action RPG, it’s shaping up to recapitalise on the same things that made the first game such a unique and challenging experience. Despite Nioh’s quality, however, developer Team Ninja is still acutely aware that there’s an appetite among fans for another entry in the studio’s Ninja Gaiden series.
Ryu Hayabusa’s limb-severing exploits have been dormant ever since 2014’s disappointing Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. Fans haven’t forgotten the series’ former glory, though, so there’s still a desire to see Ninja Gaiden return, and Team Ninja appears to be in the same boat.
Speaking to IGN, Nioh 2 game director Fumihiko Yasuda says the studio has been inspired by recent ninja-themed games, and might want to revisit Ryu Hayabusa’s adventures in the future. “The core members of the team that worked on Ninja Gaiden want to make a new game,” he explains. “We are aware that some fans wanted Ninja Gaiden more than Nioh 2. Now we see a lot of ninja games like [Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice] as well, and we see a lot of good inspirations in those games, so we hope to deliver some good news one day.”
This is hardly confirmation that a new Ninja Gaiden is in the works, but there’s clearly a mutual yearning for a new entry in the series from both sides.
If you have a more urgent craving for Team Ninja’s particular brand of action, Nioh 2 is set to launch on March 13 for PlayStation 4. We’ve also got you covered with an extensive pre-order guide if you’re looking to get a copy in advance.
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