The recently released Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is set for a physical release only on PlayStation 5.
– Playasia said It has partnered with publisher Koei Tecmo to release a physical-only version of the PS5 Remaster on March 27.
There’s no mention of a physical Xbox version, which is perhaps unsurprising considering Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is already available on Game Pass, Microsoft’s subscription service.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was announced during Xbox Developer Direct 2025 and dropped digitally across PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. This was a surprise that came with the confirmation that Microsoft is to publish Ninja Gaiden 4 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S (including the first skin of the game) later in 2025.
Here’s the official Ninja Gaiden 2 Black:
In Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, players take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a deadly ninja who wields the legendary dragon sword, while engaging in a global battle against a series of formidable enemies. The handsome and bloody remaster uses Unreal Engine 5 to significantly boost graphical expression, elevating everything from character visuals to environments. In fact, stages, characters, effects and lighting have been completely redesigned and remastered to fully immerse players in the dim world of the story.
Gore elements such as dismemberment and gore have also been remastered to enhance the action experience. Fast, violent fights unfold with brilliant brutality, utilizing a variety of weapons and techniques including Japanese swords, Shurikens, Kusari-Gamas and Tonfas. Meanwhile, those looking for a more subdued experience can simply enable the dismemberment feature in the options menu.
Additionally, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black includes additional elements from spin-off titles released after the original game’s debut, including the ability to control three additional characters: Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel. The remaster also includes “Hero Play Style”, a beginner mode that provides automatic support in the most hard situations, making the extremely hard title more accessible to those who may not be as confident in their action skills.
In the post Wirey XboxNinja team leader Fumihiko Yasuda explained the decision to remaster Ninja Gaiden 2.
“This simultaneous announcement and release on the same day with Ninja Gaiden 4 may have surprised some people,” he said. “The biggest reason for developing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was to solve the problems of core fans who might be wondering, ‘What will happen to Ryu Hayabusa?’ “. We also wanted to give players something to enjoy while waiting for the release of Ninja Gaiden 4. We chose Ninja Gaiden 2 because it is one of the strongest action games in the series. We added “black” to the title to signal to fans that this is the final version, much like “Ninja Gaiden Black was for the first game.”
Yasuda continued: “This version is designed to please both those who played the originals and newcomers discovering it as a next-generation action game. We’ve meticulously incorporated some of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2’s extras, staying true to the challenge and feel of the original 360 version, including its signature violence.
The relentlessly challenging Ninja Gaiden series Team Ninja has a long association with Xbox. The reboot of the action franchise launched first on Xbox in 2004, pushing Ninja Master Ryu Hayabusa into the mainstream. Ninja Gaiden Black, Considered one of the greatest action games of all timelaunched the following year.
Ninja Gaiden 2 was released in 2008 published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360. Ninja Gaiden 3 followed in 2012 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. , More recently Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, Ninja Gaiden Sigma compilation, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge.
Wesley is IGN’s British news editor. Find him on Twitter at @WYP100. You can reach Wesley at Wesley_Yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at WYP100@proton.me.
