Rise of the Rōnin

Rise of the Rōnin (ライズオブローニン, Rise of Ronin) is an action RPG developed by Team Ninja that focuses on the Bakumatsu era of Japan. Sony Interactive Entertainment is in charge of marketing and publishing the game, having previously done so for Koei Tecmo when they released the Nioh series.

Fumihiko Yasuda serves as the game's director and producer.

Plot
During the waning years of the Edo period in 1863, a number of anti-shogunate groups formed a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate following three centuries of tyrannical rule and the sudden reopening of their country to foreign influences. A lone rōnin, otherwise known as a samurai with no master, must navigate their way throughout this time of unrest and make decisions that shape both their life as well as the fate of Japan itself.

Gameplay

 * Similar to Nioh 2 and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, players can customize their own character's appearance however they like.
 * Open-world exploration is made possible by traveling on foot, riding by horse, or moving in the air with a gliding device.
 * Players are able to take on a plethora of side quests in exchange for rewards.
 * Various weapons from the Boshin war can be used to fight against enemies. These include katanas, spears, firearms, etc.
 * New abilities and techniques can be learned via skill tree feature.
 * Multiple story branches are available with key decisions affecting which players may fight for. Some of these decisions may involve protecting important figures or targeting them for an ideological cause.
 * Players can form a romantic bond with certain characters.

Development
According to the game's director, the project's development started on 2015 with PlayStation Studios' XDev providing assistance. Their goal was to produce a game that portrayed Japan during one of its moments of upheaval. Development initially progressed at a slow and leisurely pace since the studio prioritized more on other projects. But eventually, both the director and Koei Tecmo decided it was time to take things to the next level by making the game their most ambitious project while drawing on the experiences gained from creating Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. The company expressed its hope that the title would be able to sell 5 million copies in its lifetime as part of their mid-growth strategy.

Related Media
Rise of the Rōnin was first revealed during a State of Play livestream in September 13, 2022.