TMNT: The Last Ronin Combines PlatinumGames Combat With God of War Style Storytelling

Paramount Games Studio has officially unveiled TMNT: The Last Ronin during Summer Game Fest 2026, confirming that the mature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation is now in development at PlatinumGames, the studio known for NieR: Automata, Bayonetta 3, and Ninja Gaiden 4.

The project has had a long and complicated path. TMNT: The Last Ronin was first announced in March 2023, when it was being developed by Black Forest Games, the studio behind Giana Sisters and Destroy All Humans. That version of the game was later stopped before the Skydance and Paramount merger, after which the project was reassigned to PlatinumGames under the newly established Paramount Games Studio publishing label.

The change in developer will almost certainly reshape the gameplay. PlatinumGames has built its reputation on fast, expressive, highly technical action, and that DNA should give The Last Ronin a very different feel from its earlier planned version. However, one major creative direction appears to remain intact: the game is still aiming for a mature, cinematic action adventure tone inspired by modern western storytelling.

In an interview with Gamertag Radio, Shawn Kittelsen, Senior Vice President and Head of Creative and Production at Paramount Games Studio, explained that the team is looking at games such as God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Ghost of Yōtei as major storytelling references. The goal is to combine PlatinumGames style combat with a more emotionally driven western action adventure structure.

"This is going to be a Platinum game, but one of the things that Platinum really wanted was to take Platinum style gameplay and meld it with western style action adventure storytelling. So, I'm actually working on the story with the team. This is the first time that I’ve worked on a story for a game since Mortal Kombat 11. So, it’s been a while. I’ve been working on other things, but this was one that brought me back in, and I’m working with a lot of great people on this."
— Shawn Kittelsen

Kittelsen also revealed that Mike Rogers was brought in as narrative director, while Yohei Shimbori is directing the project at PlatinumGames. Shimbori has a strong fighting game background, having worked on Tekken 8 and the Dead or Alive series for several years. That combination could give The Last Ronin a unique creative structure, bringing together Japanese action design, fighting game expertise, and western narrative direction.

"Mike Rogers is the narrative director we brought in to work on this because, when we first started the project, we had all these conversations with Yohei Shimbori, the director at Platinum working on the game. He comes from a lot of great work in fighting games. He was on Tekken 8 and the Dead or Alive series for a number of years, and Shimbori was pitching me on how they wanted to tell the story, and I started pitching some ideas back and talking about, well, if you want western storytelling, we’ll get some western talent to come in. He’s like, Well, I was thinking you could work on the story with me. I’m like, Yeah, don’t tempt me with a good time. I’m in. I’m in."
— Shawn Kittelsen

That setup makes TMNT: The Last Ronin one of the more interesting licensed games currently in development. The source material is already darker than the traditional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles identity, focusing on a future where only one turtle remains to defend New York. The Foot Clan and Shredder’s grandson, Oroku Hiroto, are determined to control the city through fear and oppression, leaving the last surviving turtle to carry the weight of loss, revenge, and legacy.

Kittelsen said the team is treating the project as a passion effort and emphasized that the final result should feel different from both a typical western action game and a traditional PlatinumGames title.

"So working on it is a passion project for all of us, but I think maybe the biggest difference is you're going to see a story that... We talk a lot about games like God of War and Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yōtei, and really challenging both the conventions of what a western action game looks like and what a Platinum action game looks like. I think it's going to be a very unique combination of the two."
— Shawn Kittelsen

That creative ambition makes sense for The Last Ronin. A straightforward character action game could deliver excellent combat, but the story needs emotional weight to honor the comic’s darker premise. By using God of War and Ghost of Tsushima as narrative touchpoints, Paramount Games Studio and PlatinumGames appear to be aiming for a game that balances intense combat with character drama, grief, and a more grounded sense of consequence.

The involvement of Kittelsen is also notable because Mortal Kombat 11 was his last game story credit before this project. Returning for TMNT: The Last Ronin suggests that Paramount sees the narrative as a major pillar, not just a supporting frame for action gameplay. If the team succeeds, the game could offer both stylish combat and a more serious character driven interpretation of the TMNT universe.

There is no release window yet for TMNT: The Last Ronin. The game is currently confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

For fans, the biggest takeaway is that The Last Ronin has not disappeared. After its original development path changed, the project is now back with a new studio, a stronger publishing structure, and a clear creative ambition. With PlatinumGames handling combat and Paramount Games Studio pushing a more cinematic story direction, TMNT: The Last Ronin could become one of the boldest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games ever made.

Are you more excited for TMNT: The Last Ronin because of PlatinumGames combat, the darker story, or the God of War style cinematic direction?