As of June 2025, Team Ninja has officially announced Nioh 3, the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed action role-playing game series. The announcement was made during Sony's State of Play event on June 4, 2025, with a surprise playable demo released immediately for PlayStation 5 users. The full game is slated for release in early 2026 .
Nioh 3 is an action RPG developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo. It continues the series' legacy of challenging, Souls-like combat set in a reimagined version of Japanese history. The game is confirmed for release on PlayStation 5 and Windows PCs .
Development Background
The Nioh series has been praised for its deep combat mechanics, intricate level design, and rich historical settings. Prior to the announcement of Nioh 3, Team Ninja had expressed interest in exploring new intellectual properties. Director Fumihiko Yasuda had mentioned that the team was focusing on new titles and gaining experience before potentially returning to the Nioh series in the future .
However, the success of the Nioh games and the team's desire to build upon their experiences led to the decision to develop Nioh 3. The game aims to refine and expand upon the elements that made the series popular while introducing new features to enhance the player's experience.
While specific details about the gameplay of Nioh 3 are limited, the series is known for its challenging combat, deep customization, and historical settings. The third installment is expected to build upon these elements, offering players a refined and expanded experience.
In previous interviews, Yasuda had expressed interest in incorporating open-world elements into the Nioh series. While this feature was not present in the earlier games, it's possible that Nioh 3 may explore this direction, offering players a more expansive world to explore .
The Nioh series is known for its reimagined versions of historical Japan, blending real events with supernatural elements. Nioh 3 is expected to continue this tradition, offering a rich narrative that intertwines historical figures and events with mythological and supernatural elements. The specific setting and storyline details are yet to be revealed, but fans can anticipate a compelling narrative that builds upon the foundations laid by the previous games.
Release Date and Platforms
Nioh 3 is scheduled for release in early 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation 5 and Windows PCs, continuing the series' tradition of multi-platform releases. A playable demo was released on June 4, 2025, allowing players to experience a portion of the game ahead of its full release .
The announcement of Nioh 3 has generated significant excitement among fans of the series. Players are eager to see how Team Ninja will expand upon the elements that made the previous games successful. Discussions within the community suggest that fans are particularly interested in the potential for an open-world setting, deeper customization options, and a more expansive narrative .
With Nioh 3 on the horizon, Team Ninja is poised to deliver another installment that builds upon the strengths of the series. While specific details about the game's features and storyline are still under wraps, the release of the demo has provided players with a glimpse of what's to come. As the full release approaches, more information will likely be revealed, offering fans a clearer picture of the game's offerings.