The latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu appears to have leaked the news early (GDC, we expect, will see an official announcement for our shores) -- Ninja Gaiden II will be coming to the PlayStation 3 as its predecessor did in 'upgraded' form (it will not be a port); the news is contrast to what that 'Only on Xbox 360' stamp told you. The title, of course, is Ninja Gaiden Sigma II, and it's due in autumn 2009 (we expect a simultaneous release is planned as before).

Note the 'PlayStation Network' (PSN) is mentioned in the Famitsu scans, with some parts of the Internet saying the game will be coming to us digitally.

It's been awhile since its Xbox 360 release, but perhaps this one will have been worth the wait, and will be a killer app for PlayStation 3 owners.

Directed and produced by Yosuke Hayashi (who helmed the first Sigma), the game will be developed by the surviving Team Ninja. Fresh to this version will be a new weapon (a spiked hammer called "Genma"), new "giant" boss battles, and a new playable character, the female ninja Ayane (pictured at center below).

Original creator Tomonobu Itagaki isn't likely to be happy with the conversion, however -- on top of being ousted by parent company Tecmo last year, he's stated to CVG previously the last Sigma is not a true Ninja Gaiden and as such, the sequel would not come to the PS3:

"All you need to do is play Ninja Gaiden II and then try and play Sigma afterwards and you'll see why. Despite the fact that it's on a 'next-generation' console there's no evolution whatsoever. That was made not by me, but one of my sub-ordinates who basically tried to copy the success of Ninja Gaiden.

[Ninja Gaiden II will never be seen on PS3] because it's an Xbox 360 exclusive. We've announced it as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but I don't own Tecmo the company. But if [a conversion] were to ever happen it would be a loss of face for everyone involved."