The highly anticipated, yet stubbornly unconfirmed, Ninja Gaiden 4 sent shockwaves through the gaming community today – not with a reveal trailer, but with a jaw-dropping pre-order listing. Multiple retailers briefly displayed placeholder pages for the game, including a version labeled the "PS5 Standard Edition" with a staggering price tag of $999.99.
The listing, spotted by eagle-eyed users and deal trackers like Wario64 on Twitter, appeared on several major retail sites before being swiftly pulled down. It offered scant details beyond the title, platform (PS5), and that eye-watering price point. No box art, no description, no release date – just the implication that Ryu Hayabusa's next adventure might cost as much as a high-end gaming PC.
A Case of Mistaken Identity?
Digging deeper into the listings revealed a likely culprit: database errors. One particularly telling link pointed not to a ninja masterpiece, but to something entirely different:
Mustang Standard Edition (Check it out, but maybe don't pre-order this for NG4!)
This link leads directly to a Ford Mustang model page on Walmart, strongly suggesting that retailer catalog systems temporarily misfiled or cross-referenced product codes. The "$999.99" figure seems almost certainly a placeholder gone rogue, possibly defaulting to a high value rather than the typical $69.99-$89.99 expected for a standard edition AAA game.
Fueling the Hype (and Confusion)
Despite the clear error, the brief appearance ignited fervent discussion online. The Ninja Gaiden series, dormant since 2014's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z spin-off and the 2012-2013 releases of Ninja Gaiden 3 and its Razor's Edge update, has a dedicated fanbase desperate for a true next-gen sequel from Team Ninja. The mere sight of "Ninja Gaiden 4" on a retailer page, even erroneously, was enough to set forums and social media alight.
Wario64's tweet documenting the incident quickly gained traction, becoming a focal point for reactions ranging from disbelief and memes to genuine, if cautious, excitement that something might finally be stirring in the shadows.
The Ghost of Games Yet to Come... Or Not?
This incident highlights the perils of retailer backend systems and the intense hunger for news on long-awaited sequels. It echoes the frustration felt by fans of other perpetually delayed titles. Just this week, outlets like GSM Go Tech reported on yet another missed window and lack of communication for the also-eagerly-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, underscoring how sensitive fans are to any hint, real or mistaken, about their most-wanted games.
The Bottom Line
While the $999.99 "Standard Edition" was undoubtedly a glitch – likely a boring database mix-up involving a completely different product category – its fleeting existence served two purposes:
- It proved the intense, pent-up demand for Ninja Gaiden 4. Fans are watching any channel for a sign.
- It provided a moment of absurdist humor in the often-serious world of gaming hype. Paying a grand for a standard edition? Even Ryu Hayabusa might balk at that mission.
For now, Team Ninja and publisher Koei Tecmo remain silent on Ninja Gaiden 4. While this pre-order scare wasn't the announcement fans crave, it's a stark reminder that whenever the real reveal does happen, the anticipation will be sky-high. Just don't expect the standard edition to cost as much as a used car. Probably.
Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5) preorder is $999.99 at Walmart https://t.co/Vc6aW52jZy
— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 10, 2025
Deluxe $245.33 https://t.co/mMxyCkZKvk
or $69.99/$89.99 at Best Buy https://t.co/cxtQElNsSE #ad
also launching on Game Pass Ultimate pic.twitter.com/Hm2DaeEI9M
Post a Comment