In a recent conversation, Yosuke Hayashi, who serves as the Executive Vice President at Koei Tecmo, shared some behind-the-scenes insights about the development of the game Rise of the Ronin. According to Hayashi, PlayStation’s involvement was crucial, stating that the project might never have begun without their support. Along with him, Fumihiko Yasuda, the Head of Team Ninja, also discussed the recent release on PC and touched on what’s next for the game.
Rise of the Ronin, developed by Team Ninja and set in the intriguing backdrop of 19th-century Japan, has been well-received on the PlayStation 5 since its initial release. The game allows players to create their own character and jump into an era filled with katanas, firearms, and historical cities like Yokohama, Edo, and Kyoto. Originally exclusive to the PS5, the game expanded to PC via Steam on March 11, building on its previous success. As these developments unfold, Hayashi and Yasuda have opened up about their experiences and the role PlayStation played.
During an interview with RPG Site, both Hayashi and Yasuda reiterated how vital PlayStation Studios’ support was, noting its influence on everything from accessibility features to the precision of player onboarding. Yasuda mentioned that these insights significantly benefited Team Ninja throughout the development phase.
Although the game has successfully moved to PC, Yasuda talked about the team’s commitment to improving the experience using feedback from PS5 users. While the core content remains unchanged, this feedback helped fine-tune the game’s performance to suit various PC setups, notably aiming for a stable frame rate to ensure the action is fluid. When asked about future updates or expansions, Yasuda admitted there are currently no plans for any downloadable content (DLC).
Despite its positive reception on PS5, the PC launch of Rise of the Ronin hasn’t been without issues. Players have reported significant performance hiccups, often requiring high-end systems to run smoothly. These technical challenges have resulted in a “mixed” rating on Steam. For Team Ninja, tackling these problems swiftly is essential to turning around its PC reputation.
Rise of the Ronin represents an ambitious blend of action RPG elements, adventure, and an open-world setting. Released on March 22, 2024, and rated as Mature 17+ for its mature themes, the game has been put out by Sony Interactive Entertainment. As it stands, while Team Ninja has no DLC plans, their focus remains on improving the game’s overall performance across platforms.
