During the Xbox Games Showcase, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja announced that Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember, a sequel to their 2023 action RPG set during the fall of the Hans Dynasty, shortly before the Three Kingdoms period. The timing of this announcement makes sense, given that the studio had both Nioh 3 and Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly releasing earlier this year, with Wo Long being of a similar nature.
The first and most noticeable element in the trailer is the scope of the areas that are showcased. Both previous games developed by Team Ninja, Rise of the Ronin and Nioh 3, used open-world exploration, giving players several densely packed areas for them to complete tasks, tackle side quests, and just explore in between completing major tasks. Wo Long 2 is set to continue that trend to some degree, though the full degree remains to be seen.
Players will once again take on the role of a customizable character who is drawn into a series of wars that are being fought over something called the elixir of immortality. The combat should look familiar to players who played the previous title, with fast-paced combat using traditional Chinese weapons. There is also a new mechanic known as the Phoenix ability, though what this skill will entail has yet to be expanded upon.
Besides this, we do know Team Ninja is developing a new title in the Dead or Alive franchise, though very little has been showcased for it. The last title in the series was released in 2019 and received some mixed reviews. Team Ninja has gone out of their way to outright title this upcoming entry Dead or Alive 7, so there is a possibility that this will act as a reboot or a change in direction for the franchise, the first developed by Team Ninja back in 1996.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Embers will release in 2027 and be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
