PlatinumGames developers has revealed that NINJA GAIDEN 4 was inspired by Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell.
This information was disclosed by PlatinumGames developers during an interview with Game*Spark (via Automaton). If you’re interested in PlatinumGames games, you can check our other articles here.
NINJA GAIDEN 4 was Inspired by Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell
August 9, 2025 – Speaking with Game*Spark (via Automaton), art director Tomoko Nishii, level design director Yudai Abe, and lead composer Masahiro Miyauchi revealed that the city settings in NINJA GAIDEN 4 were made to continue the sense of heaviness found in past Ninja Gaiden games.
The constant dark, heavy rain juxtaposed with bright, neon lights was intentional, as PlatinumGames developers wanted players to feel like their surroundings were closing in on them.
According to Miyauchi, elements in the urban areas, such as art, level design, and music, were inspired not just by Blade Runner but also by Ghost in the Shell.
Using Ninja Gaiden II’s Tokyo environment as a springboard, the developers created what they envisioned to be a natural, cyberpunk-flavored evolution of the location. On the other hand, they introduced a distinct Japanese feel through the game’s enemy designs, some of which are inspired by traditional folklore.
The words “Cyberpunk” and “Japanese” are the core foundations of NINJA GAIDEN 4’s design, with PlatinumGames developers building off of Ninja Gaiden II’s towering skyscrapers.
In a separate interview with Denfaminicogamer, directors Masakazu Hirayama (Team NINJA) and Yuji Nakao (PlatinumGames) talked about where NINJA GAIDEN 4 stands in the franchise and how their experience as fans helped shape the game.
“When we were deciding on which past game we should use as a foundation, I suggested NINJA GAIDEN 4’s structure and game cycle should be created with Ninja Gaiden II as a base,” said Nakao as translated by Automaton.
“The Ultimate Guidance technique will make its first reappearance in the series since Ninja Gaiden II, but it’s not like it’s returning as just a result of going through various different development processes.”
Nakao also emphasized that this wasn’t a coincidence or due to necessity that cropped up during the development, but rather a result of the project consciously using Ninja Gaiden II as its axis.
“Rather than being based on the actual Tokyo, we intended for the game to inherit the ‘essence’ of Sky City Tokyo, one of the locations from Ninja Gaiden II,” added Nakao.
However, Nakao says that PlatinumGames has prepared a variety of locations and settings, including more rural and Japanese-inspired areas, so it’s not like all of the fights will be happening in the city.
Nakao also stresses that while working on NINJA GAIDEN 4, he focused on implementing elements of previous games that were the most enjoyable and had good reception. This includes “the most remarkable” systems and game cycle elements from Ninja Gaiden, as well as Ninja Gaiden 3.
“That’s why I spent pretty much every day of development playing past titles,” Nakao laughs.
Nakao confesses that he approached the development with the feelings of a fan, and despite being nervous to handle the game, he was impatiently waiting for it to be announced and felt confident in his ability to bring NINJA GAIDEN 4 to life.
NINJA GAIDEN 4 will release on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC (Steam) on October 21, 2025. The game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
