Sony’s September State of Play was full of goodies and announcements. One giant shocker came from Team Ninja in the form of a brand new open-world game, Rise of the Ronin. The Ninja Gaiden developers have garnered high expectations for this new samurai title.

Players can explore 1863 Japan as a Ronin, a samurai free from masters and bonds. Your destiny will intertwine with rich interactions between characters and be able to experience immersive combat. The trailer shows off Japan undergoing one of its darkest moments in history, the Bakumatsu period. Civil war, oppressive rulers, and deadly diseases all contributed to one of Japan’s most complex struggles in history.

In the trailer, we can see American oppressors making themselves at home in a thriving city. The narrator describes the “black ships” as the source of intruders and turmoil for Japan. We also get a glimpse at sword combat as well the use of firearm weaponry, appropriate for the time period. This action RPG is aiming to provide a different take on historical Japan by taking place during a time period never explored before. Decisions will play a major role in the game as players begin to take sides with the characters they encounter.

Although there is still much to be shown, Rise of the Ronin is looking like a huge exclusive for Sony and we can’t wait to find out more information on the story and gameplay details. The game is currently in development for the PlayStation 5 as a console exclusive launch in 2024.