Nioh 3 Unveiled at Sony's June 2025 State of Play

Team Ninja has officially unveiled Nioh 3 during Sony’s State of Play presentation, marking a major return for the critically acclaimed action RPG series.

The debut trailer confirmed an early 2026 release date for the highly anticipated sequel. This time around, players can look forward to expansive open fields to explore, in addition to mastering two distinct combat styles: Samurai and Ninja. A playable demo is now live.

In Nioh 3, the protagonist is a young warrior destined to become the next Shogun. While the full story behind his battle against yokai will be revealed later, what’s clear now is that players can engage in combat using two new dynamic styles: Samurai and Ninja.

The Samurai style delivers gameplay reminiscent of earlier Nioh titles, enhanced with new mechanics like Arts Proficiency, which boosts martial arts power, and Deflect, allowing last-second enemy attack blocks—both contributing to high-stakes, close-quarters combat.

On the flip side, the Ninja style emphasizes agility, enabling quick dodges, aerial maneuvers, and precise offensives using tactical Ninjitsu techniques suited to battlefield conditions. Players can deploy abilities such as Mist, which creates a clone after an attack, and Evade, letting them narrowly escape enemy strikes. These tools help players outmaneuver enemies while launching fast, deadly attacks from behind.

Switching between these combat styles is seamless and instantaneous, giving players the freedom to adapt their playstyle throughout a narrative shaped by strength, speed, and cunning. Depending on enemy behavior and stage layout, some may blend both styles fluidly, while others stick to one approach. However you choose to play, prepare to face some of the most brutal foes ever designed in the series!

Beyond the new combat mechanics, Nioh 3 introduces sprawling open fields, offering a fresh sense of exploration while maintaining the intense atmosphere synonymous with the franchise. Encounter powerful yokai in unexpected places, investigate villages steeped in dark secrets, and take on the perilous challenges of The Crucible. Discover hostile new environments filled with danger at every turn as you fight your way through a cursed kingdom.

As longtime fans of the franchise, IGN awarded the original Nioh a stellar 9.6/10, calling it “an epic, unforgettable adventure driven by a fierce combat system that cleverly balances style and strategy.” Its sequel, Nioh 2, also received critical acclaim with a 9/10, praised for its “stellar combat and satisfying difficulty,” despite its complex systems.

Since the 2020 launch of Nioh 2, Team Ninja has remained active, delivering titles such as Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Rise of the Rōnin, and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4.

Missed the showcase? [ttpp] You can catch up on everything announced at Sony’s June 2025 State of Play event here.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to follow the latest on Nioh 3.