The PC version of Rise of the Ronin is facing some significant hurdles. Previews have shed light on a range of technical challenges that Team Ninja still needs to address. Even though the game made its debut on PlayStation 5 nearly a year ago, this isn’t the first time a Team Ninja title has had a rocky transition to PC.
Originally released in March 2024, Rise of the Ronin received praise, particularly for its engaging historical narrative and robust RPG mechanics, though it stopped short of achieving universal critical acclaim. When the PC port was announced for January 2025, the anticipation among gamers was palpable, eager to experience Rise of the Ronin on their preferred platform. However, with only a few days until launch, some concerning issues have come to light.
Reports from PushSquare have highlighted significant performance problems. Optimization is a major culprit, with the game requiring a high-end PC to run smoothly. This is disappointing, especially considering that the PlayStation 5 version was already critiqued for its outdated graphics, which were somewhat redeemed by its strong art direction. It’s possible that these previews were based on a version lacking the day-one patch, but it still leaves a less-than-perfect first impression.
This isn’t Team Ninja’s first stumble with PC game releases. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, launched in March 2023, encountered similar performance hiccups and was met with backlash on Steam despite launching on multiple platforms simultaneously. Both Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Rise of the Ronin run on the Katana Engine, pointing to potential technical commonalities. One can only hope that these early issues will be rectified swiftly with optimization patches.
Team Ninja certainly has a full plate this year. Following the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the developer is gearing up for the PC release of Rise of the Ronin while also working on the recently announced Ninja Gaiden 4, expected later in 2025. Additionally, they’re developing a dating simulator called Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme. These projects might not demand equal resources, but there’s hope that Team Ninja maintains a high standard of quality across the board.
