What to know
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Nioh 3 launches on February 6, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.
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A new demo released January 29, 2026 supports solo and online multiplayer for up to three players, with save data carryover to the full game.
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You play as Tokugawa Takechiyo, tied to a time-traveling story that spans multiple eras and regions.
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The game shifts to an open-field structure, with regions centered around a Crucible challenge to purify an area.
Nioh 3 is positioning itself as a bigger, more exploratory entry than earlier games, while keeping the series’ fast, technical combat and loot-driven progression. If you like building characters through gear upgrades and mastering enemy patterns, this is still that kind of game, just built around larger spaces and region objectives rather than purely mission-to-mission structure.
| Topic | What’s confirmed so far |
|---|---|
| Release date | February 6, 2026 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam |
| Demo | Available from January 29, 2026; solo or online co-op up to three players; save carryover |
| Setting | Japan’s Sengoku period plus other eras via time travel |
| Structure | Open-field exploration across eras/regions; purify areas via the Crucible |
| Combat identity | Two-style approach (Samurai and Ninja) and a counter to red, unblockable Burst Attacks using Burst Break timing |
| Editions/bonuses | Digital Deluxe includes base game, season pass (two DLCs), and included bonuses; early purchase bonus available for a limited window after launch |
Release, platforms, and demo details
Nioh 3 is scheduled to release on February 6, 2026, and the confirmed platforms are PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. A public demo went live on January 29, 2026, and it supports solo play or online multiplayer for up to three players, with the ability to carry your save into the final game after you finish the demo content. This demo-to-launch gap is short, so if you’re testing weapons and systems now, you’re effectively preparing a launch-ready foundation.
Story premise and key characters
You take on the role of Tokugawa Takechiyo, who is poised to become the next Shogun during the Sengoku period, while his younger brother Kunimatsu plots to overthrow him using a sinister force and yokai.
Takechiyo is guided by a guardian spirit named Kusanagi and transcends time as part of his effort to survive and ultimately become shogun. Confirmed historical and legendary figures appearing across eras include Takeda Shingen, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Minamoto no Yoritomo, plus familiar faces like Hattori Hanzo, Honda Tadakatsu, and Saito Fuku.
Open-field progression and how the Crucible fits in
The biggest structural change is the move to open-field exploration across multiple eras and regions, including places like Edo Castle and the Tōtōmi region in the Sengoku period, and Kyoto in the Heian period. Each open field is designed around pushing toward a Crucible at the center, where you fight through a harsher pocket realm and defeat a final boss to purify the region. As you explore, you’ll be dealing with yokai and other strong enemies while completing region objectives that build your readiness for the Crucible and the area’s end challenge.
Combat systems
Nioh 3 keeps the series’ emphasis on stamina management, timing, and punishment for overextending, while also leaning harder into style-shifting combat.
Enemies can use Burst Attacks signaled with a red cue; these are otherwise unblockable, and the intended answer is a precisely timed Burst Break that cancels the attack and swings momentum back to you. There’s also an Arts Gauge that enables a powered-up state for chaining stronger martial arts and higher damage output during key moments.
Editions, DLC plan, and early purchase bonus
Alongside the standard edition, there is a Digital Deluxe Edition that includes the base game, a season pass with two add-on DLCs, and additional in-game items listed as part of the edition bonuses. There is also an early purchase bonus that can be redeemed for a limited time after release, with a stated deadline of February 19, 2026 for eligibility. A SteelBook edition is also listed for pre-order and includes the base game plus two exclusive bonus DLCs.
Planning your first week in Nioh 3
If you’re planning your start, the confirmed demo save carryover suggests it’s worth treating early character decisions and experimentation as real progression, not disposable practice. Because the game is structured around open fields and Crucible purification, you’ll likely get the most consistent power curve by exploring thoroughly and entering the Crucible when you’re stocked, upgraded, and comfortable with Burst Break timing.
Nioh 3 is locked in for February 6, 2026 on PS5 and PC, with a recent demo that supports co-op and save transfer into the full release. The confirmed direction is bigger-scale storytelling across eras, open-field regions, and a Crucible-centered loop, backed by style-based combat and Burst Break counters that reward timing and adaptability.
