Rise of the Ronin Struggles: Team Ninja's Worst Steam Launch
Mar 12, 2025 1:07 PMTeam Ninja's recent title, Rise of the Ronin, has launched on PC after a year-long exclusivity on PS5, but it has not met expectations, becoming the developer’s worst-performing major release on Steam. The title peaked at just over 12,000 players, significantly lower than past titles like Nioh 2 and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. The mixed reception indicates players are unhappy with performance issues and gameplay that feels overly familiar, leading some to compare it unfavorably to Assassin’s Creed titles. With its release timed alongside popular games like Monster Hunter Wilds, many feel it has failed to garner significant interest or a lasting player base.
Why is Rise of the Ronin struggling on PC?Rise of the Ronin is struggling due to a combination of performance issues, a lack of innovative gameplay, and stiff competition from other major releases, leading to disappointing player counts and reviews since its Steam launch.
Rise of the Ronin, set in 19th century Japan, aims to introduce players to a new action RPG experience but has not resonated well with audiences. Previously, Team Ninja was lauded for its successful franchises like Nioh, making this underwhelming performance all the more notable as fans had high hopes for the title's unique approach to storytelling and combat design. The challenges faced by Rise of the Ronin highlight the difficulties in transitioning established console franchises to the PC gaming space effectively.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Stimpy commented on: 2025-03-12 13:18:13
It’s always tough to see a game with a cool premise like *Rise of the Ronin* stumble, especially when it’s coming from a studio with such a solid track record. Maybe it’s a reminder that even the best devs can miss the mark when innovation takes a backseat to familiarity.
Miss Peachy commented on: 2025-03-12 13:12:16
Oof, sounds like Rise of the Ronin got caught in the crossfire of high expectations and tough competition. It’s a bummer when a game with potential gets overshadowed by performance hiccups and a lack of fresh ideas, especially from a studio like Team Ninja that usually nails it.
