Team Ninja's open-world samurai game, Rise of the Ronin, was a focal point of Sony's first PlayStation State of Play of 2024, during which the developer discussed in detail combat as well as exploration.
Rise of the Ronin was announced in September 2022 as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive from the studio behind Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Nioh, and Dead or Alive. The single-player game will tell the story of an untethered samurai who travels Japan in the late 19th century — a tumultuous time of civil war as the Edo period came to a close.
A March 22, 2024 release date was announced at The Game Awards in December 2023 alongside a trailer which promised a dramatic story and lots of sleak gameplay. Players can use katanas and firearms to overcome enemies, and parkour and gliders to traverse the world.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Fumihiko Yasuda, Game Producer and Director at Team Ninja, detailed Rise of the Ronin's reeform traversal options, combat mechanics, and the development of character relationships based on your actions. On player choice, Yasuda said: "At one point in the new trailer, we see the player choose to help a character named Igashichi fight a group of hostile guards. This choice to help establishes a bond between these characters, lets players get to know Igashichi more deeply, and unlocks other game features. You’ll be able to make these choices with additional characters, such as Ryoma Sakamoto highlighted in a previous trailer.
"Who you choose to develop a relationship with impacts how the story unfolds. However, there are no disadvantages to bonding with a character at the expense of another. Consider it even more variety for your next playthrough."
Apart from Rise of the Ronin, PlayStation also showed off Stellar Blade and a host of other games. Go here to check out everything announced at today's State of Play.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
