Nioh 3 will be released on February 6, 2026. The developers shared new details: the game will be more accessible to newcomers, focused on fans of Japanese history, and retain its signature difficulty.
Producer Fumihiko Yasuda confirmed in an interview that Nioh 3 takes place in an open world. The team took into account the experience of the last six years, and changes in the structure of the world should simplify entry for newcomers.
Although the project remains hardcore, the developers are softening the sharp changes in difficulty. The map is created in the "open field" format.
We wanted it to be open, but not too open, so that players wouldn't get lost. We needed to find a balance of freedom in exploring locations, so that there was not too much and not too little. The action had to remain the heart of the game, as well as the tension, even with the increased exploration possibilities. This balance led us to the open field format.
A detailed but not overloaded guide has been prepared for beginners, but the enemies will remain a serious challenge.
Exploring the world gives more freedom, but there are very difficult enemies on the battlefield. We focused on giving players more tools — equipment and exploration opportunities. But the difficulty typical of our games has not decreased.
