Nioh 3's demo just got shadow-dropped during the PlayStation State of Play for June 2025! Read on to learn more about the game’s release and its limited-time demo.
Nioh 3 Releases Early 2026
Limited-Time Demo Available Today!
Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja officially announced Nioh 3, the latest installment in their critically acclaimed dark fantasy action RPG series. The announcement trailer not only showed fans a glimpse of what's to come but also set an early 2026 release window. Adding to the excitement, a limited-time demo for Nioh 3 shadow-dropped exclusively on PlayStation 5 immediately after the showcase.
This demo is available starting today, June 4, until June 18. As per Team Ninja’s press release on the PlayStation Blog, "This is not only your chance to get an early look at what we’ve been developing for the past few years, but we’d also appreciate your feedback as we attempt to fine-tune the game and create the definitive title in the Nioh series!" They invited players to give their feedback through a survey on their official website after finishing the demo to let them know their thoughts.
For years, fans have clamored for a return of the series. The original Nioh captivated players in 2017, followed by its equally lauded sequel in 2020. Now, Team Ninja is poised to elevate the action RPG experience once more. General producer and Head of Team Ninja, Fumihiko Yasuda, expressed the team’s enthusiasm for the game’s announcement, as he invited both seasoned warriors and newcomers to experience the "satisfaction of succeeding in the face of constant death."
Nioh 3 Overview
According to Team Ninja’s press release, Nioh 3 is set against the backdrop of Japan’s Sengoku period. It casts players as none other than Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most pivotal figures in Japanese history. In the announcement trailer, though, he declared himself by his original given name, Takechiyo.
As the founder of Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over two centuries, Takechiyo is a warlord who is most known for being a great strategist. Not much is known about the game’s plot, but it is expected to go over Takechiyo’s rise to power amidst the warring states and the ever-present threat of yokai. "Why is he dedicated to battling against yokai? We’ll save those details for another day," Yasuda said.
The game, however, will introduce an "open field" that departs from the more contained zones of previous Nioh titles. Players can expect "unexpected encounters with formidable yokai, explore suspicious villages riddled in violent secrets, and take on the daunting challenges of The Crucible." It is currently unknown what "The Crucible" holds for players.
Despite playing as a well-known figure in history, the demo will feature "the character creation feature that was well-received in the previous title" for players to create "various types of heroes."
Moreover, players can now switch between two combat styles—Samurai and Ninja—at any moment. The Samurai style offers a gameplay experience familiar to veterans of the series, which focuses on close-range martial arts. New actions like "Arts Proficiency" enhance the character’s prowess, while "Deflect" to parry enemies.
Ninja style, meanwhile, is more focused on "dodging and aerial actions." Players can leverage a variety of "Ninjutsu" techniques while they are moving about the air. Abilities like "Mist," which leaves a clone after an attack, and "Evade," for narrowly avoiding strikes, can help players outmaneuver foes and deal damage from behind.
More details are sure to emerge as the game's release date approaches, but fans can get a taste of what's to come with the demo available today. In the meantime, for all the latest updates on Nioh 3, check out our article below!
Source:
PlayStation Blog | Nioh 3 announced for PS5, limited-time demo available today
