SinceSince its launch in 2020, 《Ninjala》has been in operation for over 6 years. As an action game centered on PVP, 《Ninjala》gradually developed its unique gaming style over these years.
And this year,Gung Ho announced the new series entry 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》. Compared to the previous work, the biggest change in this title is undoubtedly the shift in focus—from PVP-centric competitive gameplay to an open-world PVE mode focused on exploration and adventure. For a title that has been operating for many years, this transformation is significant.
《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》choose such a completely different path? And what impact did the six years of operational experience from the first generation have on this sequel? With these questions, during "Tokyo Game Show 2026," we had the honor of interviewing Mr. Mototaka Kaneda (hereinafter referred to as Kaneda), the game director of 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》, to discuss the many new attempts behind this title.
Mr. Mototaka Kaneda
Here are the details of the interview:
Q: Why did this title choose to be exclusive to Switch 2 instead of other platforms?
Kaneda:The first generation 《Ninjala》was originally a Nintendo-exclusive title available only on Switch. Although we are a third-party developer, we have always treated the "Ninjala" IP as a "Nintendo platform exclusive." The concept for this title was built on this premise, and you can understand it as a direct inheritance of the original's positioning.
Q: What resolution and frame rate can the final version achieve in docked and handheld modes on Switch 2?
Kaneda:Docked mode and handheld mode have different hardware performance capabilities. We are tuning both modes separately, aiming to maximize the performance of each hardware configuration. Specific numbers—for example,maximum resolution, etc., are still under development and adjustment, so we cannot officially announce them yet.
But one thing is clear: this is an action game, and frame rate is a non-negotiable aspect. Therefore, whether in docked or handheld mode, priority is given to maximizing frame rate, and on that basis, pursuing the best visual effects, ensuring the experience is not compromised by the mode.
Q: As a Switch 2 exclusive, does 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》leverage the new hardware to implement features in game design that were not possible on the original Switch?
Kaneda:This title is aSwitch 2 exclusive PVE open-world game, whereas the original 《Ninjala》was originally a PVP game. What we value most is the feel of the action, such as whether players feel comfortable and satisfied when operating with the controller.
Regarding game difficulty, to allow anySwitch 2 players can get started easily. We also provide difficulty settings,Players can choose from three difficulty levels focusing on story, action, and combat, allowing each player to select the difficulty that suits them best.
Q: Why did this title switch from PVP to PVE, and why choose an open-world format? What were the considerations behind this?
Kaneda:There are two main reasons.
First, the original 《Ninjala》is still in operation, with global downloads exceeding 12 million, played widely by players around the world. We hope to further grow the "Ninjala" IP. Although the first generation received various updates, the "Ninjala" worldview and characters have also been expanded through other media. Many characters and stories not featured in the main game appear in works outside the game. This time, we hope to convey these contents to players. When considering "which game genre best allows players to understand the 'Ninjala' world and IP," we ultimately chose PVE open world.
Secondly, during long-term operations, we conducted player surveys asking what modes they wanted to play in the future. The top requests wereThere were many voices saying, "I want to enjoy the story slowly by myself," and "I don't want to compete; I want to cooperate with friends to clear stages." It's not that we are abandoning competitive play, but the team's internal direction aligned highly with actual player surveys and feedback, which was a significant factor in促成ing this transformation.
Q: Was the development concept for 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》 formed during the long-term operation of the first generation, or was it planned from the start? How did the operational experience over these years influence the development of 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》?
Kaneda:The first generation 《Ninjala》has been in operation since 2020. Until recently, the development team was almost fully dedicated to updating the first generation, researching what modes to release. It was only when we started considering the next title a few years ago that we gradually shifted to maintaining updates for the first generation while simultaneously starting work on the sequel; it wasn't decided from the beginning that we would make a sequel.
Additionally, unlike mobile games which can theoretically have an indefinite lifespan, console gamesThe first generation was released on Switch, and now the sequel is coming to Switch 2. Considering the hardware iteration timing, we determined that the time was right to release the sequel on Switch 2, resulting in 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》.
Q: Were there any problems or challenges encountered during the development of the open world in 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》? After all, it differs greatly from the form of the original 《Ninjala》.
Kaneda:When creating the open world, the first thing we considered was"What should a 'Ninjala'-style open world look like?" The characteristic of the original 《Ninjala》was high-speed movement, and it was a 3D action game emphasizing horizontal and vertical dimensions. Therefore, we spent a lot of time discussing how to design the terrain of the open world so that players could play in a "Ninjala" way. For example, if climbing a high wall slowly meant it took a long time to reach a destination, that wouldn't be "Ninjala" at all. Thus, how to allow players to move quickly with "Ninjala"-style actions while enjoying the mobility of the open world was the most labor-intensive task in the early stages of development.
Q: The setting of this title is a brand new unknown planet, rather than continuing the world of the original 《Ninjala》. What were the considerations behind this? How should players view the differences and connections between 《Ninjala》and 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》?
Kaneda:The characters and worldview of this title continue from the previous game, still being"Ninjala" world. The reason we moved the stage toUnknown Planet, because open world is already a very mature genre, with many games adopting it. To present a"Ninjala"-style open-world visuals and maps,Not limited to the existing world, it offers more creative space, allowing for more interesting forms and worlds.Therefore, we decided to venture into new territory, using another planet as the stage for our visuals and world, allowing for more freedom and fun in creation, presenting something with more"Ninjala"-flavored scenes.
Q: Will 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》 feature mounts or vehicles?
Kaneda:Regarding vehicles, what we can currently disclose is that this timeAs seen in the PV, skateboards will appear as a type of vehicle in the game. This is roughly all we can reveal at this stage; please look forward to more information.
Q: Besides combat, what other designs need rethinking when switching from PVP to PVE? What difficulties were encountered?
Kaneda:In terms of the open world, the movement design in the map mentioned earlier is a major part. Conversely, I would also like to say thatPVP and PVE gameplay differ significantly. We had to complete this transition while preserving the "Ninjala" feel. Since PVP involves one-on-one battles between players, while PVE requires facing multiple enemies simultaneously, we had to redesign enemy configurations beyond just player actions. This includes determining how many monsters appear at once, how bosses are arranged, whether group ambushes occur, and how to let players use "Ninjala"'s unique movement styles to tackle PVE combat. These were all challenges during development.
Q: After the release of 《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》, will there be long-term updates with collaboration content like the first generation?
Kaneda:If we receive various requests and demands from everyone, we will actively research and consider them.
Q: Are there plans for online multiplayer elements? Will the PVE portion support online co-op?
Kaneda:Both main types of multiplayer will be supported. You can play online via the internet, or locally via proximity communication without an internet connection. CombiningSwitch 2's hardware features, we envision the main scenario being playing while voice chatting with friends. Additionally, it supports gameplay such as finding strangers online to help fight a boss battle, aiming to provide various interaction-centric ways to play.
Q: Finally, please say a few words to Chinese players.
Kaneda:Thank you very much. I hope those who played the first generation 《Ninjala》players can experience a "Ninjala" that retains the series' characteristics while feeling fresh. "Ninjala" is still a young IP, but its worldview, characters, and visuals are very charming. We hope everyone enjoys the solid and engaging action experience, as well as the charming characters and worldview.
《Ninjala 2: Unknown Planet》will launch on Switch 2 in Spring 2027. After six years of operation and accumulation, let's wait and see how much "Ninjala" will evolve.