Rise Of The Ronin - What We Know So Far

Throughout its history, Sony has been known for providing PlayStation players with a variety of exclusive offerings. In recent years, PlayStation gamers have had exclusive access to successful titles such as "Spider-Man," "The Last of Us Part 2," and "Death Stranding," among others. And now, in tandem with "Dead or Alive" and "Ninja Gaiden" developer Team Ninja, Sony has formally announced its latest exclusive PlayStation title: "Rise of the Ronin." Set in 1863 Japan, "Rise of the Ronin" will put players in the shoes of a Ronin, a samurai that lives in a morally gray area in society due to not having a master. The game was unveiled at the PlayStation State of Play event on September 13, 2022 and has already generated tons of buzz amongst gamers. 

From the looks of it, "Rise of the Ronin" is still in the middle of active development and not much has been revealed about it thus far, but if you're familiar with the time period and a little bit of Japanese history, there is plenty to extrapolate from the early looks and press releases regarding the game. Here's everything we currently know about "Rise of the Ronin."

Unfortunately, if you were looking to get your hands on "Rise of the Ronin" in the near-future, you're going to be disappointed. As seen in the reveal trailer shown at September 2022's PlayStation State of Play event, "Rise of the Ronin" is currently scheduled to be released at some point during 2024. This means the game will release no sooner than 16 months and anywhere up to 28 months after its original announcement, barring any kind of delay during the game's development.

Also revealed in the trailer is that "Rise of Ronin" will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive. This isn't much of a shock, as the game looks highly advanced in terms of visuals, scope, and gameplay. And as we get deeper and deeper into the next generation of gaming, it's only natural that developers and publishers alike start to abandon older consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

The official reveal trailer for "Rise of the Ronin" was released on Sept. 13, 2022 during the PlayStation State of Play event. The trailer — made up of a mixture of in-game cinematics and gameplay — really shows off the game's next-gen edge, boasting gorgeous landscapes, brilliant lighting, and lifelike character models. Traditional Japanese imagery, such as samurai and lush topography, is shown, and viewers are even given a brief glimpse into the armada led by US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry in which the typically closed-off Japan of the era (Edo period) was forced into trade with the U.S. in 1853.

The trailer's voiceover makes several allusions to there being the end of an era and the rise of a new one. Given "Rise of the Ronin" takes place in 1863 Japan, this is likely in reference to the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled over Japan from 1603 until its fall in 1868, five years after the game's events. Given these hints, it's likely the game will focus on the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the subsequent rise and the beginnings of the Meiji Restoration.

Intercut with epic shots showing off the technical capabilities of the game, the trailer for "Rise of the Ronin" also contains some excerpts of gameplay sections from the title. Horseback riding, air traversal, and even gunplay are shown alongside more the traditional sword fighting typically associated with Japanese games set in these time periods. Game director and Team Ninja president Fumihiko Yasuda defined the game an action-RPG in an official blog post. "Rise of the Ronin" will focus on the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and will reflect the war between the regime and its adversaries. Players will control an unnamed Ronin, a samurai without a master.

In terms of story, "Rise of the Ronin" will take place during a transitional period in Japan's history. "Set in the late 19th century, Japan is facing the darkest of times as it struggles with its oppressive rulers and deadly diseases while western influence permeates as civil war continues to rage between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Anti-Shogunate factions," the blog post reads. Yasuda's blog also implies that the player will be given choices throughout the game as a consequence of the nomadic nature of the Ronin. While comparisons to the critically acclaimed "Ghost of Tsushima" seem inevitable, "Rise of the Ronin" seeks to forge its own path.