Namco Bandai have announced that they are releasing a new PSP fighting game later this year. One would seemingly think this was a North American release of the Japanese PSP fighting game, the press release seems to say otherwise:

Developed by CyberConnect2 exclusively for the U.S. and Europe, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is the highly anticipated fighting game that gives gamers the ability to sharpen their ninja skills with intense single and multiplayer team-based fighting. In a new addition to the franchise, gamers will also have the ability to create and customize their own ninja dream squads to battle opponents or trade players’ profiles via wireless connectivity. To further maximize the character power-up feature, players can form different team combinations to awaken hidden skills that lie within each group. Depending on the combinations, special team-based skills can be unleashed. Gamers can also earn power-up points toward upgrading each character’s attack, defense, chakra, speed, and even special abilities.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes boasts the following features:
– First 3-on-3 Naruto team-based gameplay – Players can fight alone or form their favorite Naruto ninja dream team with up to three characters. Form squad combinations from the show or create an original team to unleash special skills.
– Ad hoc multiplayer – Engage in intense wireless battles anywhere and anytime via the PSP system’s ad hoc capability. Power up squad members and battle against a friend’s team.
– Game sharing – Play against a friend using a single UMD.
– Upgradeable characters – Level up your ninja rank that appears in the player’s profile by completing different classes of missions using your favorite character.

This seems to be yet another “new” Naruto game that was not released in Japan. With MCV and the North American exclusive Xbox 360 title, the North American popularity seems to be opening more avenues for new games, beyond simple ports of existing Japanese titles.