Team Ninja’s devilishly difficult samurai souls-like is back, and it’s bigger and bloodier than ever. Revealed during PlayStation’s June 2025 State of Play, the Nioh 3 announcement confirmed what many hoped was coming: a brutal, faster, and more ambitious sequel. PS5 players even got hands-on time via a limited-time demo.
While that has now passed, the Nioh 3 news cycle is just getting started. Nioh 3 introduces open-field zones, dual-style combat stances, and new yokai-related hijinks. Whether you’re here for the masochist punishment or the Japanese folklore setting, the next in the franchise promises a defining step forward in Team Ninja’s samurai saga.
The Escapist recaps
- Nioh 3 release window is set for early 2026.
- PS5 demo ran June 4–18, 2025, but it is now now offline.
- Dual-style combat: Samurai & Ninja stances.
- Open-field exploration replaces linear maps.
- The game will launch day one on PS5 and PC (Steam).
When could Nioh 3 be released?
The Nioh 3 release window is officially confirmed as early 2026, according to the PlayStation Blog and the June 2025 State of Play event.
That places the Nioh 3 release date somewhere between January and March, barring any major delays. From what was observed by the state of the demo, it’s not hard to speculate that a Q1 launch seems highly likely.
While it’s not clear when Nioh 3 will get a more specific release date, Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show are likely candidates. Given Team Ninja’s tight marketing windows in the past, expect a steady rollout of more content and previews over the coming months.
Expected Nioh 3 Price & pre-orders
Nioh 3 pre-orders aren’t live yet, but they will likely appear when the game receives its full release date..
Completing the demo (now expired) rewarded players with a special Crimson Kabuto Helmet, which will be available in the full game. Whether there will be more demos or chances to get the cosmetics in the future is not currently known.
Expect various editions, with collector’s bundles and digital bonuses, especially if Koei Tecmo repeats its strategy from Nioh 2’s launch. With that in mind, we expect this to be a full-priced $69.99 release.
Nioh 3 Platforms
Confirmed Nioh 3 platforms on day one are PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. This is a first for the series—Nioh 1 and 2 both launched on PlayStation first before trickling over to PC months later. There’s no PS4 version planned, and Team Ninja hasn’t announced any plans for an Xbox release either.
Nioh 3 trailer & gameplay breakdown
The official Nioh 3 trailer set the tone perfectly: fast, vicious, and stylish. Combat has evolved with a new dual-style system, letting you switch in real-time between a heavy, defensive Samurai stance and a fast, evasive Ninja stance. This gives players more tools than ever to control the pace and flow of each battle.
The transition to open-field zones is another big shift. Gone are the segmented, mission-based maps. Instead, Nioh 3 offers larger, interconnected areas filled with side paths, minibosses, yokai ambushes, and hidden gear
The demo also gave players a taste of the character creator, with promises of full customization at launch. All of these points suggest a faster, more flexible, and even deadlier evolution of the classic Nioh formula, especially with the inclusion of a double-jump, giving Nioh 3 some serious Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice vibes.
What is the Nioh series about?
Nioh is an action RPG series developed by Team Ninja and set in a dark, mythologized version of Japan’s war-torn Sengoku era. The games blend the historical with the supernatural, pitting players against legendary samurai and grotesque yokai.
The gameplay is known for being brutally difficult. You’ll need to master parries, Ki (stamina) management, and weapon stances to survive. Nioh has always rewarded patience, precision, and planning. With each entry, Team Ninja has expanded on that core, adding more weapons, systems, and now—in Nioh 3—more space to explore and fight.
Nioh (2017) had you play as real-life Englishman turned samurai, William Adams. You were in pursuit of an evil sorcerer, all while fighting off hordes of yokai in a fictional retelling of Adams’ involvement in the unification of Japan before the Edo period.
Nioh 2 (2020) was set earlier in Japan in the late 1500s, acting as a prequel to some of the events of Nioh, where you play a Hidechiyo, a half-human half yokai, who can be customized by the player, trying to uncover the secrets of their past.
Ask The Escapist
Yes. Team Ninja—the original studio behind Nioh and Nioh 2—is developing Nioh 3, once again led by director Fumihiko Yasuda. It’s a proper sequel with all the original DNA intact, not a reboot or spin-off.
Not quite. While it’s not a seamless open world like Elden Ring or Ghost of Tsushima, Nioh 3 uses an “open-field” structure. Think larger, interconnected areas with multiple objectives and plenty of reasons to explore. It’s a step up in scale and freedom compared to the mission-based zones of previous entries.
Yes. Multiplayer is returning in Nioh 3, including co-op features like Visitor Summons and Expedition Missions. Team Ninja hasn’t detailed PvP yet, but given past games, it’s very likely. Whether helping friends or summoning assistance, multiplayer remains central to the Nioh formula.
There was, for a limited time. The Nioh 3 demo was available exclusively on PS5 from June 4 to June 18, 2025. It offered early access to new mechanics, an open-field zone, and a character creator. Completing the demo unlocked a reward for the full game. No second demo has been announced, but a wider beta before release isn’t out of the question.