{"id":48734,"date":"2025-06-05T13:02:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T04:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=48734"},"modified":"2025-06-05T13:02:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T04:02:24","slug":"nioh-3-is-an-open-field-game-not-open-world-the-developers-explain-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/nioh-3-is-an-open-field-game-not-open-world-the-developers-explain-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Nioh 3 is an open-field game, not open-world. The developers explain why\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>During the recent State of Play, Koei Tecmo\u2019s Team Ninja announced <strong>Nioh 3<\/strong>, scheduled to launch on PS5 in early 2026 and on Steam. The much-awaited Nioh sequel\u00a0shakes up the franchise\u2019s formula, introducing open-field map design in favor of linear design. Team Ninja makes a point of using the term \u201copen-field\u201d instead of \u201copen-world,\u201d and in a recent interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.4gamer.net\/games\/916\/G091606\/20250603034\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4Gamer<\/a>, they explain what the difference is and why they purposely avoided making a fully open-world map.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nioh 3 - Announcement Trailer | PS5 Games\" width=\"1160\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KXGm-JaxY54?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Nioh 3\u2019s general producer Fumihiko Yasuda, the fundamental idea behind replacing linear progression in the game was to create \u201ca seamlessly connected Nioh\u201d that grants players freedom in field exploration. However, executing this was not a simple matter, as the team knew that a fully open-world map would be contradictory to the nature of the Nioh series itself, which Yasuda describes as \u201ca dense, die-and-retry experience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we were to dilute the map\u2019s density to capture the vastness of an open world, it would no longer be Nioh 3. If we\u2019re making Nioh 3, the density and craftmanship of the gameplay are non-negotiable,\u201d Yasuda comments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1399\" height=\"779\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1399px) 100vw, 1399px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-002-header.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-002-header.jpg 1399w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-002-header-380x212.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-002-header-768x428.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, Team Ninja didn\u2019t aim for scale, but rather for seamlessly interconnected fields that allow free exploration, but maintain the density Nioh is known for. This density is achieved by placing tightly-packed, challenging areas called hells throughout the map. These&nbsp;hells are \u201careas corrupted by the intense spiritual energy of yokai\u201d that you purify by defeating the area\u2019s boss. Clearing them is what allows you to progress, and Team Ninja describes them as \u201chigh-risk, high-reward zones,\u201d as they come with more powerful enemies and obstacles, as well as exclusive item drops.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this sense, Nioh 3\u2019s producer Kohei Shibata confirms, the game loop will consist of field exploration and venturing into the challenging hells, with exploration being crucial for levelling up your character and obtaining new gear and skills. Additionally, Team Ninja confirms that Nioh 3 will not have any form of vehicle or mount for traversing the open field, but you will be able to acquire a skill that allows you to dash between places at a high speed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1402\" height=\"778\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1402px) 100vw, 1402px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-001-header.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-48738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-001-header.jpg 1402w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-001-header-380x211.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/20250605-001-header-768x426.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nioh 3 is scheduled to launch on PS5 in early 2026 and on PC (Steam). A free demo is out now on PS5 until June 18.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nioh 3 creators Fumihiko Yasuda and Kohei Shibata talk about the game&#8217;s &#8220;open-field&#8221; map design and why they chose it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":48736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64,3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-48734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-development","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Nioh 3 is an open-field game, not open-world. 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