Nioh 3 Dev Shares How Ninja Gaiden Influenced The Combat Overhaul

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Team Ninja recently revealed the first details of *Nioh 3*, the newest installment in the popular action-RPG series. The game puts players in the role of Tokugawa Takechiyo, a reimagined version of Japan’s first shogun, who battles supernatural enemies on his path to power. A new feature in *Nioh 3* allows players to seamlessly switch between samurai and ninja combat styles, and Team Ninja has now shared that this ability was inspired by their *Ninja Gaiden* games.

We really wanted to push things forward with the next game and create a core action mechanic that felt totally new. As the team behind Ninja Gaiden, we’ve got a ton of experience making awesome ninja games, just as much as we do with the samurai combat in Nioh. We figured adding ninja would be a huge hit, especially with players outside of Japan, and it felt like a natural fit within Nioh’s Japanese setting. Honestly, it just seemed like the perfect way to evolve the gameplay.

Yasuda mentioned that Nioh games have included nods to Ninja Gaiden in downloadable content before, and Team Ninja is now exploring ways to make action gameplay that appeals to fans of both franchises.

Players will be able to choose a preferred fighting style, but each style has unique strengths. Those who play as samurai can regain stamina after an attack using a special move called Ki Pulse. Ninja players, however, won’t have access to Ki Pulse. Instead, they can use a ‘mist’ ability to create a temporary clone, helping them confuse and attack enemies.

Okay, so the latest news is Nioh 3 is looking like it’ll be out in early 2026 for both PlayStation 5 and PC. But don’t worry, there’s something to play sooner! Team Ninja’s new Ninja Gaiden game – the fourth one – is dropping on October 21st for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. And cool fact: Platinum Games helped them out with that one too!

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2025-09-22 15:39