Latest news with #NinjaGaiden4
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here's Everything That Was Announced During The Xbox Game Showcase 2025
June has rolled around once again, and that, of course, means a ton of exciting new announcements from Summer Game Fest 2025! While the show itself was packed with new games to be excited for, Microsoft took the stage to showcase a plethora of titles that Xbox Fans should be hyped for! In case you happened to miss the show, CGM has you covered with all the major announcements from the Xbox Game Showcase! Kicking off the Xbox Game Showcase, Obsidian gave players a brand new gameplay trailer for The Outer Worlds 2, showcasing a lot of the strange and exciting new FPS Gameplay, as well as some new insight into the story of the game. The Outer Wolds 2 will launch on Xbox Series X|S on October 29th, 2025. Returning with the same silly energy, and sentient guns, High on Life 2 also showcased a brand new first-person skateboarding mechanic, which will seemingly will be used both for exploration and combat. No release date was given, but High on Life 2 will launch in Winter 2025, with Game Pass subscribers given early access. Set Fifteen years before A Plague Tale: Requiem, young Sophia seeks her independence as a fierce plunderer in the unforgiving world of the 14th century. With a bold trailer seemingly set in ancient Greece, this new look into the A Plauge Tale story will be coming to Xbox PC and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. In a shocking trailer that seemingly confirmed rumours of Microsoft working on their own Switch rival, players recieved the announced of the Xbox Ally—a collaboration with ASUS ROG, to bring their very own version of the Ally. The AMD-powered devices will feature an AMD Ryzen Z2 A, with the Xbox Ally X hosting an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, as well as software to better suit the Microsoft and Xbox experience. The Xbox Ally will launch Holiday 2025. Developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco, Blood of the Dawnwalker looks to be an dark fantasy ARPG set in a grim world where Vampires rule the night with a terrible force. Players take on the role of a half-vampire Dawnwalker, who seeks to combat this terrible foe and unravel the mysteries of their lineage. While no official release date was given, The Blood of Dawnwalker is set for a 2026 release. The follow up to the critically acclaimed and deeply punishing platformer, Super Meat Boy 3D looks to evolve the intense action formlua of Team Meat's iconic series and bring it to the third dimension. Feautring the fast-paced and playfully gory gameplay of its predecessors, Super Meat Boy 3D lands on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC in Early 2026. Showcasing a brand new action-packed trailer, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja showed off the incredible new gameplay, and some of the intense bosses in Ninja Gaiden 4. Looking to be a much faster and more fluid experience than its predecessors, Ninja Gaiden 4 also showed off some gameplay from series protaganist Ryu Hyabusa. Ninja Gaiden 4 will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation5 on October 21, 2025. In an action packed trailer, Bethesda showed off the first DLC for Indian Jones and the Great Circle titled The Order of Giants. A brand new story chapter that will takes Indy to the ancient streets of Rome where forgotten catacombs twist into something far more sinister. Indy must outwit a dangerous cult and decipher puzzles designed by emperors to uncover the dark legacy of the Nephilim giants. The DLC will launch on September 4th, 2025. Developed by Game Freak (yes, the Pokémon creators) and directed by Kota Furushima, Beast of Reincarnation allows players to step into the role of Emma the Sealer as they journey through post-apocalyptic Japan to save humanity from extinction. The title is set to release in 2026 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, as well as available on launch on PC and PlayStation5. Intitally revealed last year, InXile Entertainment and Microsoft showed off a in-depth trailer highlighting the story and gameplay elements of their new time-bending action RPG Clockwork Revolution. The game looks to blend an incredible FPS combat with RPG story progression where players can reshape not only the narrative, but the world itself. No release date was given for Clockwork Revolution. Obsidian is back with its grand-scale tiny survival game Grounded 2. Featuring what looks like a larger map, new weapons and crafting mechanics and of course, terrifying new colossal bugs to battle against. Get ready to survive the backyard once again when Grounded 2 launches on July 29th, 2025. Blooper Team showcased a brand new trailer featuring more of the terrifying action, and grotesque creatures in Cronos: The New Dawn. Looking to be a far cry from some of Blooper Teams previous horror experiences, Cronos: The New Dawn may be as intense as it is terrifying. While no release date was set, the game is expected to launch for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in Fall of 2025. Bringing players to Western Solstice to explore a new zone and to continue on the main quest storyline, The update, which went live on June 2, 2025, will offer players the base-game patch, including the new Subclassing system that allows players to mix and match class Skill Lines. Additionally, the Hero's Return system will provide in-game rewards to get players back on their feet if they stepped away from the game for a while. The update will be available to console players on June 18th, 2025. From Don't Nod, showed off a trailer for their brand-new Sci Fi adventure game Aphelion. Looking to be much more Uncharted than Life is Strange, the trailer showcased a ton of the game's action platforming and sombre solitary tone. While no specifica release date was given, the game is coming in 2026 to all consoles, however Xbox owners can play it early with Game Pass. Part musical, part renovation sim, part mystery, There Are No Ghosts At The Grand is a unique, narrative-driven musical adventure, set against a spooky British seaside town that's bursting with supernatural secrets. There are No Ghosts at the Grand will support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing cross-save across console, PC or cloud, and will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with additional platforms to be announced later. The newest addition to Age of Mythology: Retold, Heavenly Spear brings an all-new Japanese pantheon to the game—introducing 12 new Gods, each with unique god powers, divine technologies, units to accompany them. A brand new 12-mission story campain will put players in the role of 2-mission campaign following Yasuko, a humble farmer's daughter who discovers a magical spear and is swept into a mythic war. Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear will launch on all platforms in Fall of 2025. MUDANG: Two Hearts is a new stealth action thriller set in modern-day South Korea. n the day when the historic bill was set to pass, a mystery terrorist group attacks the South Korean National Assembly, throwing the entire nation into chaos. Sent to uncover the truth, a North Korean soldier stumbles upon a K-Pop star and is given a new mission: protect the girl who can unravel it all. Featuring intense stealth/action gameplay MUDANG: Two Hearts will launch on Xbox PC and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. The follow-up adventure to Thunderful and Wishfully physics platformer, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is an ambitious cinematic puzzle adventure that doubles the size and scope of the original. Featuring a gripping story and breathtaking visuals, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf will be coming in 2026 to all consoles. Bethesda Game Studios also premiered the launch trailer for Fallout 76's latest update: Gone Fission—which will bring fishing to the world of Fallout 76. Launched on June 3rd, 2025, players can experience the cozier side of Appalachia with a net full of new fishing adventures, including different bait, weather conditions, fishing rods, and locations to spawn new fish types. Based on the hit webtoon, Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE brings the ultimate action RPG to Xbox with new mechanics and 4-player real-time co-op! Players will take on the role of Sung Jin Woo and go from the weakest warrior, to the world's strongest hunter! While no official release date was set, the game is set to launch in Fall of 2025 for Xbox PC and 2026 for Xbox Series X|S. you'll begin your journey in Idyll, a dynamic, interactive and expansive open world! There, you can collect, evolve, and twine with magical creatures called Aniimo. Players will explore uncharted landscapes and mysterious dungeons, battle in real-time PvE and PvP combat, solve ancient puzzles, and master a truly dynamic gameplay experience. In slick new trailer Activision and Iron Galaxy showcased featuring some gnarly moves and updated performance for the updated remake of Tony Hawk Pro Scaker 3+4. Not only that, the trailer showed off new characters inclduing Michelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as DOOM Guy. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S as well as PlayStation 5 on July 2025 and a demo dropped after the trailer. From Thunder Lotus Games, At Fate's End is an action-adventure game where you fight the ones you love. The game looks to be a brand new beautifully animated adventure featuring card-based action, and intense combat utilizing cinematic Quick Time Events. No release date was set, but At Fate's End will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in 2026. In a shocking announcement, Xbox Games Studios showed off Gears of War Reloaded, the updated remake of the original Gears of War. Being touted as 'a celebration of one of gaming's most iconic franchises,' the game will be rebuilt with 4K resolution, up to120 FPS support, and fully modernized multiplayer. Gears of War Reloaded comes to Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation 5 on August 26th, 2025. While not much was shown off during the Xbox Game Showcase, Persona fans got a small glimpes of the upcoming remake Persona 4 Revival. Showing off the game's gorgeous updated visuals within the rural town of Inaba. Arriving as a transfer student, you'll experience an unforgettable year with new friends you meet along the way. The game will come to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 sometime in the future. A brand new addition to the beloved Sea of Thieves, Season 17 introduces a new gang of nefarious troublemakers who have infiltrated the Sea of Thieves! Players can embark on new Smuggler's Voyages to salvage — or steal — these hot properties and see them safely into the wrong hands. While no specific date was given, Sea of Thieves: Smuggler's Tide will launch across all platforms as a free update in August 2025. From Quarter Up, a Skybound studio comes a brand new 3V3 tournament fighter featuring characters from the iconic Invicible comic and the voice cast from the critically acclaimed animated show. True to the show, the game will also feautre intense combo building and brutal finishers. No release date was given, but the game will launch exclusivley for Xbox Series X|S in 2026. Xbox players eager to experience the world of Final Fantasy VII: Remake will only have to wait a little longer as the game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC this winter! Alongside the announcment, players were treated do a double dose of Final Fantasy as Final Fantasy XVI was also launched for the console after the event! From Double Fine Studios, comes Keeper, a stange new adventure featuring a sentient lighthouse. Joined by a spirited seabird, players will embark upon a heartening tale of unlikely companionship and an unexpected journey into realms beyond understanding. Keeper will launch exclusivley for Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 17th, 2025. Microsoft certainly saved the best for last, and revealed the first trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Set in the year 2035, where players will once again control David Mason, as he leads the Black Ops team against a manipulative enemy who weaponizes fear above all else. No release date was given for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Digital Trends
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Ninja Gaiden 4 is PlatinumGames at its best (and bloodiest)
Earlier this year, I revisited a golden age of gaming when I played Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. The remake brought me back to a time where character action games ruled, and each one felt different in its own way. It felt so distant from today's landscape, filled with Soulslikes that worship at the altar of the parry button. That experience left me feeling prepared for the series' next installment, Ninja Gaiden 4. Or so I thought. It turns out that the upcoming sequel, scheduled to launch on October 21, is a new beast entirely. I found that out when I played a chunk of it following last weekend's Xbox Games Showcase and walked out with a big grin on my face. Though its changes to the series' patented action may bum some purists out, I'm personally thrilled to report that developer PlatinumGames has taken this opportunity to create the most Platinum game possible. And thank God for that. Recommended Videos My demo threw me right into the action, though I didn't get to play as Ryu Hayabusa. Instead, I was controlling Yakumo, a member of the Raven Clan who acts as the sequel's primary protagonist. That change is significant insofar as it gave PlatinumGames the flexibility to invent an entirely new combat system to suit his style. And that combat system? It's basically Bayonetta, but with katanas. And, somehow, a lot more blood. If you didn't know that Platinum was leading development on the project, you would the second you picked up the controller. The most obvious giveaway for me was when I dodged an enemy attack the moment it was about to land and time briefly slowed down around me. That detail should say a lot already. This is the kind of game that Platinum makes best. Combat is incredibly fast, as I slash through enemies using two standard attack buttons. There's a shocking amount of depth contained in those attacks, as it feels like every time I start mashing, I pull off a completely different combo that looks absolutely sick. At one point, I manage to grab an enemy, jump up into the air with them, and bring them to the ground with a spinning pile driver. The battles I played tossed me into encounters with waves of enemies closing in on me. My quick movement meant that I could jump between foes with balletic grace, controlling an entire crowd with ease. I had a few tools at my disposal to help with that. One button lets me toss out a few kunai if I needed to keep a little distance between a foe. When I incapacitate an enemy enough, dropping them on the ground, I'm able to leap into an obscenely violent finishing maneuver that has me slashing their limbs off as blood splashes onto the screen. Once I build up enough charge, I can also activate a sort of rage state that allows me to execute an enemy in one stylish hit. All of these things can be executed in the blink of an eye, allowing me to rack up an uninterrupted chain of violence. If this sounds extremely different from previous Ninja Gaiden games, it is, but there's still plenty of shared DNA under that flashy exterior. For instance, working around enemy blocks is still important. I can also hold down a trigger to perform much slower, more powerful attacks that bring combat more in line with the old games. Despite everything, it does still fit into the Ninja Gaiden ethos. In an interview after my demo, PlatinumGames Producer and Director Yuji Nakao explained how it melded the ethos of the series with its own signatures. 'Even though you are up against very tough odds, you always have a toolset available to you where it all comes down to your skill.,' Nakao tells Digital Trends. 'If you really get into that toolset, you'll be able to overcome these enemies that block when you attack and you'll have to react on the fly. There's kind of a fighting game aspect to it, so we wanted to maintain that but also bring in our unique approach, while staying true to that essential Ninja Gaiden experience.' If you've been reading this preview with a look of horror on your face, terrified that Platinum simply doesn't understand the series, that should hopefully reduce your fears. It does, but it's adapting it in a new way. Battles are still incredibly tough gauntlets where it's easy to get overwhelmed, calling back to that classic experience. The violence is absolutely over the top to the point of self-aware comedy. There are also plenty of wall running and jumping puzzles out in the linear levels just like old times. Yes, it's faster and straight up as its own version of Bayonetta's Witch Time, but the philosophy behind it feels consistent so far. I trust that the series is in the right hands. And those hands are still damn good at making action games. Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 21 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Everything announced and then some
Microsoft just wrapped up their biggest gaming showcase of the year, and honestly? They came loaded for bear. From brand new handhelds to surprise Final Fantasy drops, this wasn't your typical "here's what's coming eventually" presentation. The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 delivered actual release dates, playable demos, and enough surprises to keep Twitter buzzing for weeks. The show's theme was clear: Xbox wants to be everywhere you are, whether that's your couch, your desk, or apparently now in your backpack. With every announced game supporting Xbox Play Anywhere and a shiny new handheld to show off, Microsoft is doubling down on their "play anywhere" philosophy in a big way. Let's break down everything that happened during this gaming extravaganza. Asus' ROG Ally is now an Xbox Inside: ROG Xbox Ally - Behind The Scenes Feature The biggest hardware surprise came courtesy of Microsoft's partnership with Asus. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X aren't just another Steam Deck competitor, they're Microsoft's direct answer to handheld PC gaming. Both the Ally(s) run full Windows, meaning you can access Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and pretty much any PC storefront you can think of. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nugegoda: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms Senior Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo The regular Ally packs an AMD Ryzen Z2A processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage, while the Ally X steps things up with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme, 24GB of RAM, and a full terabyte of storage. Both launch this holiday season, and Microsoft made sure to mention that every game shown in the showcase will run on these handhelds. That's a bold claim, but if it holds true, these could be game-changers for portable gaming. The Outer Worlds 2 finally gets a real release date The Outer Worlds 2 - Official Story Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 After years of waiting, Obsidian's space RPG sequel has locked in October 29, 2025 as its launch date. The new trailer showed off the colony of Arcadia, which looks like it's having a significantly worse time than the locations in the first game. Rifts are tearing through space-time, factions are at each other's throats, and somehow capitalism is still the real villain. The sequel promises bigger RPG systems, more reactive storytelling, and full character customisation. Plus, there's an expanded Direct happening right after the showcase, so Obsidian clearly has a lot more to show. If you enjoyed the original's blend of dark humour and corporate satire, this looks like more of exactly what you want. Ninja Gaiden 4 brings PlatinumGames flair to Team Ninja violence NINJA GAIDEN 4 - Official Release Date Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 October 21, 2025 marks the return of one of gaming's most brutally difficult action series. Ninja Gaiden 4 is a collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, which sounds like a recipe for some absolutely bonkers combat sequences. The trailer showcased new protagonist Yakumo pulling off impossible combos against hordes of enemies, with the signature weapon-switching and aerial juggling the series is known for. The game is set in near-future Tokyo, features connections to series legend Ryu Hayabusa, and promises to deliver that "git gud or go home" difficulty the franchise built its reputation on. If you've been missing proper character action games, this one's shaping up to be essential. Super Meat Boy gets an extra dimension Super Meat Boy 3D Announcement Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Sometimes the most unexpected announcements hit the hardest, and Super Meat Boy 3D definitely qualifies. Sluggerfly and Headup Games are taking Team Meat's masochistic masterpiece and literally adding another dimension to the suffering. The early 2026 release promises all the wall-jumping, buzzsaw-dodging, death-filled gameplay that made the original a cult classic, except now you can fail spectacularly in three dimensions instead of two. The trailer showcased the same tight platforming mechanics that turned controllers into projectiles worldwide, complete with Meat Boy's quest to rescue his bandage-wrapped girlfriend from that eternally creepy fetus in a jar. It's the kind of game that makes you question your life choices while simultaneously hitting "retry" for the 500th time – and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. Clockwork Revolution shows off its steampunk time-travel madness Clockwork Revolution | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 InXile's ambitious RPG got an extended look, and it's looking appropriately ambitious. Set in the steampunk city of Avalon, players discover that history itself has been manipulated by the city's ruler. Your solution? A time travel device that lets you hop into the past and change things, with consequences rippling forward into the present. The new trailer focused on the grittier side of Avalon, showing the downtrodden areas where gangs prey on the weak. It's a far cry from the polished upper city areas we've seen before, suggesting the game will have some real social commentary alongside its time-bending mechanics. No release date yet, but this is definitely one to watch. Call of Duty Black Ops 7 goes full sci-fi Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - Official Teaser | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 The final reveal of the show was perhaps the biggest surprise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, set in 2035. This isn't your typical modern warfare setup; the trailer suggested heavy sci-fi elements, psychological warfare, and the return of David Mason from Black Ops 2. The year 2035 apparently isn't going great for humanity, with the world "on the brink of chaos" following the events of previous Black Ops games. Treyarch and Raven Software are promising co-op campaign support, near-future weaponry, and the next chapter of Round-Based Zombies. The official reveal is coming this summer, but this teaser suggests the series is taking some big swings with its setting and tone. Gears of War Reloaded gets a multiplayer beta next week Xbox Games Showcase Deep Dive | Gears of War: Reloaded Sometimes the best announcements are the ones you can play immediately. Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can jump into a multiplayer beta starting June 13. This definitive edition of the original Gears features 4K textures, 60 FPS campaign, 120 FPS multiplayer, and full cross-play support. The remaster is coming to more platforms than any Gears game before it, including PlayStation 5. It's a smart move from Microsoft, using one of their biggest exclusives to showcase their multi-platform strategy while giving longtime fans the definitive way to experience the game that started it all. Grounded 2 trades the backyard for suburban wilderness Grounded 2 - Announce Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Obsidian's surprise sequel announcement came with an immediate Early Access date, July 29, 2025. Grounded 2 moves the action from a single backyard to the larger Brookhollow Park, featuring new biomes, new bugs, and one of the community's most requested features: rideable vehicles called Buggies. The game promises major quality-of-life improvements over the original, including an all-in-one Omni-Tool that should streamline the building and crafting systems. With over 25 million players shaping the first game's development, this sequel feels like a direct response to community feedback. Final Fantasy makes Xbox its new home FINAL FANTASY XVI - Available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC today | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 In the showcase's biggest surprise drop, Final Fantasy XVI is available on Xbox platforms right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, today. The game that many considered a permanent PlayStation exclusive just became part of Xbox's catalog, complete with Xbox Play Anywhere support and cross-save functionality. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE - Coming to Xbox | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is following this winter, meaning Xbox players will soon have access to some of the most acclaimed JRPGs of recent years. Microsoft made sure to point out that every mainline single-player Final Fantasy is now playable on Xbox platforms, which is a pretty impressive collection to have. A handful of new RPGs are coming out Aniimo Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Three RPGs caught attention for their unique approaches to familiar genres. Aniimo is an open-world creature collecting game that lets players actually transform into the creatures they capture through something called the Twining system. It's hitting 2026 with a closed beta coming later this year. Aphelion | Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Beast of Reincarnation - Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Aphelion from Don't Nod (Life is Strange, Jusant) is a sci-fi adventure about an astronaut stranded on a frozen planet. What makes it special is its partnership with the European Space Agency, promising gameplay grounded in real science. Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak takes players to post-apocalyptic Japan with a cursed protagonist and her loyal dog companion fighting massive creatures. All three games are coming in 2026. Fighting games and indie darlings round out the roster Invincible VS | Official Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Quarter Up announced Invincible VS , a 3v3 tag fighter based on the hit comic and animated series. The trailer showed appropriately brutal superhero combat with characters like Mark, Thula, and Atom Eve beating the absolute stuffing out of each other. It's coming in 2026 and looks like it could scratch that Marvel vs. Capcom itch. MUDANG: Two Hearts | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Mudang: Two Hearts is a tactical action game set in a reunified Korea, following a North Korean operative and a K-pop idol whose paths cross during terrorist attacks. The cinematic presentation and Unreal Engine 5 visuals make it one to watch for 2026. Persona 4 Revival - Teaser Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Persona 4 Revival got the briefest of teases, literally about seven seconds of footage, but it's enough to confirm that Atlus is giving the beloved JRPG a full remake treatment. No release date yet, but seeing those updated visuals of Inaba was enough to get fans excited. DLC updates keep existing games fresh The Elder Scrolls Online - Tales of Tamriel | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Fallout 76: Gone Fission Launch Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Three major Xbox exclusives are getting substantial content drops. The Elder Scrolls Online is continuing its Worm Cult storyline with new content arriving June 18. Fallout 76 added fishing with the Gone Fission update, because apparently even post-apocalyptic wasteland dwellers need to relax sometimes. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants - Official DLC Reveal | Xbox Games Showcase Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is getting The Order of Giants DLC on September 4, taking Indy beneath the streets of Rome for a new adventure. Hollow Knight: Silksong finally shows signs of life The most anticipated indie game of the decade got its briefest of mentions, but sometimes that's all you need to send a fanbase into overdrive. Hollow Knight: Silksong appeared during the ROG Xbox Ally segment with a simple promise: it'll be available "at launch and in Game Pass" when the handheld arrives later this year. No new footage, no release date, just the confirmation that Team Cherry's long-awaited sequel is still breathing. The game's developer quickly clarified that Silksong isn't tied to the console's release and will arrive "before Holiday," which has fans cautiously optimistic that Christmas 2025 might finally deliver the Metroidvania sequel they've been waiting years for. After countless delays and radio silence, even this tiny update feels like a victory for the Silksong faithful who've been subsisting on hope and memes for far too long. Next year brings Xbox's 25th anniversary celebration [4K] Xbox Games Showcase 2025 | The Outer Worlds 2 & Grounded 2 Direct Phil Spencer closed the show by looking ahead to 2026 and Xbox's 25th anniversary. The confirmed lineup includes a new Fable, the next Forza game, Gears of War: E-Day, and what Spencer called "the return of a classic that's been with us since the beginning." Most fans are interpreting that last tease as Halo-related, possibly a Combat Evolved remake or remaster. It's a strong lineup for Xbox's quarter-century celebration, mixing beloved franchises with what sounds like a major nostalgic announcement. Whether it's Halo or something else entirely, Spencer clearly saved the biggest tease for last. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ninja Gaiden 4 looks sick, is out in October, and has the exact storytelling I demand from a ninja game: 'You're a wanted criminal now'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ninja Gaiden 4 got a new trailer and a release date at today's Xbox Games Showcase, and this thing looks like a fever dream I had back in 2013: which I mean as a compliment. I mean, what more is there to life than murdering enemy ninjas and demons in incredibly graceful and over-the-top fashion? The major reason for excitement around Ninja Gaiden 4, after the unutterably disappointing Ninja Gaiden 3, is that Team Ninja has been on fine form ever since with the likes of Nioh, and on this occasion had the wisdom to rope-in Platinum Games, best-known for Bayonetta and a studio that boasts some of the best hack-and-slash talent the industry's ever known. And doesn't Ninja Gaiden 4 show it. You wanna know what I mean by hack-and-slash talent? This trailer opens with a character called Seori saying "watch your back Yakumo, you're a wanted criminal now." "I'll kill the dark dragon myself," says new protagonist Yakumo. "It's my mission as a raven ninja." The latter phrase is uttered as some goon's body slowly slides apart after being bisected by a ninja sword and all I have to say is: yes. Then some dork called Misaki says "breaking the dark dragon free has consequences" before a shot of some thunder-y lightning-flecked skies, and we're into the action shots of enemies being chopped into pieces. So many pieces. We get a glimpse of Yakumo's various weapons which include one that morphs into a giant drill, which he then drills enemy bodies apart with, and an absolutely sick-looking hammer that I am going to main. We've had about five seconds' worth of dialogue followed by about 400 enemies being eviscerated in 15 seconds and, you know what: take my ninjacoin. But wait there's more: Seori pops up again and says "Ryu, there's something I need your help with" and say no more fam: we're instantly into our boy Hayabusa filleting monsters, executing a fool with a perfect Flying Swallow, executing perfect dodges, and cracking out the ninpo magic. I especially liked how the camera jerks down into a fixed position for the ninpo, which maybe doesn't look as slick as some modern titles but is how the Ninja Gaiden games have always done it. At a certain point in the trailer some of you might find yourselves thinking "why does this giant mutated shark have an almost equally large humanoid skeleton inside it?" And it's a fair question but, if you need it answered, this isn't the game for you. I on the other hand am going to brutally kill that skeleton shark for daring to exist in my videogame. Ninja Gaiden 4 is out October 21, 2025, and you best believe I've got a hot date that night with a dark dragon.
