Nioh 2 gets March 2020 release date on PS4

Team Ninja's long-awaited samurai hack-and-slash sequel Nioh 2 will be heading to PlayStation 4 on 13th March next year. What's more, there's a little more news on the game's open beta, which comes to the console next month.

While Nioh 2 retains the original's blend of exuberant third-person action and light RPG elements, developer Team Ninja is looking to expand and enrich its sequel - offering greater combat complexity through new weapons and mechanics - as players' roam its distinctly supernatural take on Sengoku-era Japan. Additionally, it's possible to build your own protagonist this time around, with Nioh 2 introducing character customisation tools.

As revealed in September, players can get a test of Nioh 2's enhanced action when its open beta begins next month, running from 1st November to 10th November on PS4.

In a post to the PlayStation Blog, Nioh 2's producer Fumihiko Yasuda shared a few more details on the beta, explaining that participants will get a chance to try out the new character customisation features, the new Switchglaive weapon, and more.

Players will begin the beta in a new location known as the Interim, which provides an opportunity to choose weapons and become familiar with Nioh 2's basic moves in complete safety. From there, they'll move onto a stage awash in autumn maple leaves, based on the Sunomata castle. "The experience will be an interpretation of historical actualities combined with a healthy injection of Yokai adventure!", exclaimed Yasuada.

Those that complete the beta's challenges will earn the The Mark of the Demon Slayer, which unlocks the Kamaitachi Helmet from the in-game Shrine to use in the full version of Nioh 2 when it releases on PlayStation 4 next March.

In other Nioh news, PlayStation Plus subscribers can download and familiarise themselves with the original Nioh from 5th November, as part of the service's monthly game offerings.