On January 23, during the Xbox Developer Direct presentation, Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo made a surprising announcement: a remaster of the game Ninja Gaiden 2 titled Ninja Gaiden 2: Black, recreated on Unreal Engine 5, is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The remaster is also included in Xbox Game Pass, offering an updated version of the classic 2008 game with enhanced graphics and gameplay, retaining the series' signature brutal combat style.

According to Team Ninja lead Fumihiko Yasuda, this remaster is designed to satisfy both newcomers and long-time fans of the series. "We carefully integrated some elements from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, while keeping the difficulty and atmosphere of the original Xbox 360 version intact," Yasuda noted, highlighting the preservation of the series' iconic scenes of violence and gore. The weapon upgrade system has also been adjusted to more closely align with the original release.

Enhanced Graphics and New Gameplay Options

Ninja Gaiden 2: Black features striking updates, including redesigned locations, characters, lighting, and backgrounds thanks to Unreal Engine 5. Players can toggle enemy dismemberment on or off and experience a new mode called "Hero Play Style" that provides automatic assistance for less experienced players. Besides controlling the main character Ryu Hayabusa, players will have the opportunity to play as three other characters: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel, taken from series spin-offs.

Preparing for the Release of Ninja Gaiden 4

The remaster is released ahead of the launch of the highly anticipated game Ninja Gaiden 4, which will appear this fall for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and will also be available on release day through Game Pass. Yasuda mentioned that this remaster aims to serve as a "bridge" for fans of the series waiting for the next main entry. "We wanted to give players something they could enjoy while waiting for the release of Ninja Gaiden 4", he explained.

30th Anniversary of Ninja Gaiden

The releases of Ninja Gaiden 2: Black and Ninja Gaiden 4 are part of the celebration of the series' 30th anniversary, which Yasuda called the "Year of the Ninja." During the presentation, a game titled Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was also announced — a retro-inspired 2D platformer, created in collaboration with Dotemu and The Game Kitchen (creators of Blasphemous).

Ninja Gaiden 2: Black is Available now!

Priced at $50 (£39.99), Ninja Gaiden 2: Black promises to be the final version of the 2008 classic. Action-adventure genre fans can dive into the updated journey today, where the past, present, and future of Ninja Gaiden come together as a whole. For players and series fans, the unexpected release of Ninja Gaiden 2: Black is just the beginning, as 2025 promises to be exceptional for ninja action enthusiasts.