Why Team Ninja Partnered With Spark Unlimited For Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is being made by Team Ninja, Keiji Inafune’s studio Comcept, and Lost Planet 3 developer Spark Unlimited. Before Yaiba started development, Spark Unlimited pitched a Ninja Gaiden game to Team Ninja.

“We started meeting with Spark Unlimited for Yaiba through Comcept. From a different route, they came up with a concept for a Ninja Gaiden game on their own and presented it to us,” said Yosuke Hayashi, Team Ninja leader, said to Siliconera.

“We knew they were that passionate about Team Ninja and Ninja Gaiden. When Inafune-san and Comcept said we’re going to work on stuff we knew of them and they were interested in making a Ninja Gaiden game. We felt if they were that passionate about it and we can probably trust them. Now, we’ve met with them and feel the three parties are one team.”

Back at the Team Ninja press event, Hayashi-san pronounced that Japanese games are not dead and wore the Dead or Alive 5 “I’m a fighter” necklace as a commitment to keeping the Japan game industry alive.

“Looking at Team Ninja and what we need to do to stay relevant in the future, teaming up with a Western studio was one of the things we needed to do,” Hayashi answered when Siliconera asked about why they partnered with a Western developer.

“We see ninjas portrayed in Western games and to us they aren’t real ninjas. There is something off about them. Zombies are a creation of the West. We feel we can bring the authentic ninja-ness, and by teaming with Spark Unlimited, they can bring the authentic zombie-ness. When we come together we can make a really unique zombie experience.”