A recent update fromTeam Ninjahas walked back rumors surrounding an upcoming reboot ofDead or Alivefrom the recent Korean G-Star trade show.Team Ninja’s panel during G-Starsparked rumors of a major reboot coming from the developer, thanks to a slide entitled “Reboots of Popular Series” during the presentation. Both the fighting game and the studio’s titularNinja Gaidenwere teased during the show with fans speculating that a reboot of the games were in development. However, Team Ninja has since looked to quell the swirling rumors surrounding the panel.
Both franchises serve as some ofTeam Ninja’s most popular IPs with each series having a storied history. Team Ninja formed alongside the development of the firstDead or Alive, released in 1996, and has developed every game in the franchise with the most recent coming in 2019’sDead or Alive 6. The development team first worked onNinja Gaidenwith the franchise’s 3D reboot in 2004 and went on to create the highly successful trilogy alongside several spinoffs. Now,Dead or AliveandNinja Gaidenreboots may not be as guaranteed as fans thought.
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In a recent statement to gaming publication VGC, Team Ninja clarified the statements made by Team Ninja president Fumihiko Yasuda. While the studio is reportedly considering remakes or reboots in theNinja GaidenandDead or Alivefranchises, the developer has no hard-set details to share about the games. While Team Ninja denied any specific details at the moment, the studio did not fully rule out the possibility of a remake, stating it “shares the enthusiasm” for the return of the franchises.
A reboot or remake in theNinja Gaidenfranchise would be a long-awaited return for a franchise that has fallen mostly dormant for several years. WhileDead or Alivereceived its newest entry in 2019, the wait has been much longer forNinja Gaidenfans with the last main-series entry coming with 2012’sNinja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. However, the 3DNinja Gaidentrilogy was recently brought to modern platforms withthe release of theNinja Gaiden: Master Collectionlast year.
While Team Ninja may have temporarily quashed rumors surrounding the potential reboots, the developer has given fans plenty of reasons to be excited about its other franchises.Niohhas seen significant success for Team Ninja as a PlayStation-exclusive with 2020’sNioh 2nominated for Best Action Game at The Game Awards. The developer also has a brand-new IP launching next year withWo Long: Fallen Dynastycoming as a Souls-likeset in China’s Three Kingdoms period. WhileNinja GaidenandDead or Alivereboots are unconfirmed, the return of these franchises would certainly excite many of Team Ninja’s passionate fans.
