In recent years, Team Ninja has dominated the action RPG (Soulslike) genre with challenging hits like Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. But fans have just one burning question: When will Ryu Hayabusa make his comeback?

Considering the many years since Ninja Gaiden 3 (and its follow-up Razor's Edge) and the success of the Master Collection, the decision to develop Ninja Gaiden 4 is no longer about "if" but "when." Here’s what we expect and why now is the perfect time for its return:

Why Now? Team Ninja at Its Peak

Over the past seven years, Team Ninja has perfected its combat systems. This expertise could turn Ninja Gaiden 4 into a true masterpiece:

1. Tactile Combat: The impactful hit registration and fluid animations seen in Nioh and Wo Long could elevate the speed and intensity of Ninja Gaiden to new heights.

2. Next-Gen Power: The capabilities of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S can bring the signature dismemberment mechanics from Ninja Gaiden II to life with even smoother, more detailed, and intense combat scenes.

3. Proven Demand: The success of the Master Collection shows there’s still strong commercial interest. The studio needs to crown its RPG achievements by returning to pure action-adventure roots.

What Do Fans Want? A Call for True Return

For Ninja Gaiden 4 to succeed, it must meet some non-negotiable expectations from longtime fans:

Story Expectations: Hayabusa Faces New Foes

Ryu Hayabusa is constantly caught between revenge, demons, and ancient conspiracies. In Ninja Gaiden 4, fans expect the story to take a more personal turn:

• Ryu’s struggle to control the power of the legendary True Dragon Sword.

• Side characters from the Dead or Alive universe could appear, but without overshadowing the main plot.

Ninja Gaiden 4 has the potential to redefine not just action games, but the entire adventure genre. Now, all that’s left is for Team Ninja to answer the call and reclaim the throne of action gaming.