According to the former executive, Sucker Punch Productions‘ upcoming game, which got a release date at the end of April, will surpass Ghost of Tsushima.

There’s no doubt that Ghost of Yōtei is one of the most anticipated games of the year. After all, its predecessor was a top-tier action/adventure title that broke sales records on the PlayStation 4 as the studio’s debut. The game’s success encouraged Sony to push forward not just with a sequel, but also a movie adaptation (directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame).

Will Ghost of Yōtei live up to fans’ high expectations? In an interview with PlayStation Inside, Shuhei Yoshida, former head of PlayStation Studios, shared that he has played the game and believes fans can rest assured: it’s going to be even better than the first.

“With Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch worked closely with a Japanese producer at Sony Interactive Entertainment and staff at Japan Studio. This greatly helped the team, as developers could present their ideas and these Japanese collaborators gave internal feedback on whether they respectfully portrayed Japan. The teams also visited Tsushima Island, immersing themselves in its history and traditions.

They managed to capture the island’s unique atmosphere, visible in systems like the wind mechanic, and I think that’s part of why it was so successful. The game even boosted tourism to Tsushima, which says a lot. So if you want to succeed in Japan, especially with a game about Japan, it’s crucial to understand the country during development. Playing Ghost of Tsushima felt amazing, and after playing Ghost of Yōtei during multiple development stages, I can assure you it will be even better – Sucker Punch has done it again!” – Yoshida said.

The developers claim this will be their largest world yet, with the most player freedom. In the non-linear story, protagonist Atsu seeks revenge and can take on the Yōtei Hatos in any order. The game launches on PlayStation 5 on October 2.

Source: WCCFTech, PlayStation Inside