Sucker Punch returns to reveal a new open world based on Japan’s history, but this time 300 years after the Mongol invasion. This Ghost of Yōtei…

Sucker Punch is a studio that has been associated with the PlayStation throughout its life. Previously, players were surprised with inFamous and Sly Cooper, among others, with two sagas that seem to have been forgotten among the company’s projects. But this is not such a miracle: the 2020 Ghost of Tsushima was a huge success. They created a truly artistic and fun open-world game that made the most of the ageing PS4’s capabilities. It’s unsurprising if the team doesn’t want to leave this IP behind for years to come: all of this has been confirmed today. Because Sucker Punch and PlayStation Studios have announced Ghost of Yōtei, the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, or at least its spiritual successor, without Jin Sakai.

While we all thought that Horizon: Zero Dawn remaster would be the game that would end the PlayStation State of Play, the Japanese have a surprise up their sleeve. In addition to the artistic atmosphere of the original game and the roaming of Japan promising to kill the rōnin, you know, the masterless samurai, Sucker Punch’s new game was presented in style with a promise: it will come to PS5 and PS5 Pro next year, in 2025!

Where is Ghost of Yōtei set, and who is the protagonist?

Information is scarce at the moment, but the game’s first trailer (see below) clarified many things. Let’s start by saying that the Mongol invasion is behind us, well behind us. Yōtei will take place in 1603, 300 years after the first game, in the northern part of Japan, more precisely at the edge of Mount Yōtei, which also gives the game its name. We do not yet know the size of the map, nor whether we will explore other areas of the island. This is a new location for the Ghost of series; it will be the first time that we do not go to the archipelago surrounding Japan but to one of the mother islands.

Of course, Jin Sakai is long gone, so we will get a new main character named Atsu. We don’t know for sure who he is or how he relates to the name “Ghost” that Jin made up and repeated twice in this trailer, as well as his oni mask, but there is certainly a strong connection between the rōnin’s actions and the new protagonist.

“We looked beyond Jin Sakai’s story and the island of Tsushima, and shifted our focus to the idea of ​​the Ghost instead.”

“At Sucker Punch we love origin stories, and we wanted to explore what it could mean to have a new hero wearing a Ghost mask, and uncovering a new legend” – quotes Andrew Goldfarb, head of communications at Sucker Punch Productions. However, there are details, which are left over from the base game, such as the expansive open world, full of beautifully crafted plains populated with abundant flora and fauna, and the whistling wind.

Moreover, the wind once again plays a central role in the experience. This is the first game that Sucker Punch has developed entirely using the capabilities of the PS5 hardware, rather than making the leap from PS4 to this current generation through minor improvements to the original game’s Director’s Cut. Thus, the physics of movement, wind and particles have been significantly improved. According to the quotes, the new environment “gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons”. For example, we get an arquebus – the first time the player can use firearms in the series.

Is our arsenal expanding with a “furry companion”?!

Also, although we don’t know more details, it seems that Sucker Punch wants to add a “furry companion” to the base game experience. We don’t know how this will affect the gameplay or the plot. You can imagine Atsu befriending a wild wolf, which certainly fits the needs of these narrative-driven PlayStation games with a strong emphasis on player-AI cooperation.

We are currently waiting for more details on the game and a confirmed release date. However, the planned release window of 2025 dispels many doubts and makes it clear that next year is going to be an eventful one for PlayStation. With the promise of a new region, different biomes from vast grasslands to frozen tundras, and a new protagonist, Ghost of Yōtei promises to be one of the biggest games of 2025.

Source: YouTube