Sucker Punch’s spiritual successor to Ghost of Tsushima gets 20-minute spotlight ahead of its October release—here’s everything we know so far.
People are getting more excited about Sucker Punch Productions’ new open-world epic, Ghost of Yōtei, which will be the star of Sony’s next State of Play show. When it releases on October 2, the game will be exclusive to PlayStation 5. On July 10, a 20-minute gameplay deep dive will be available, offering the best look at this spiritual follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima so far.
Sony has confirmed that a major State of Play broadcast will take place on July 10 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. This one will be all about Ghost of Yōtei, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima. There are only a few months left until Sucker Punch’s new samurai epic comes out on October 2. This upcoming showcase should give us the best look at it yet.
During the twenty-minute presentation, Sucker Punch’s creative director, Jason Connell, and game director, Nate Fox, will showcase gameplay footage and discuss it. Deep dives into combat, customization, new special modes, and the main character Atsu’s journey through the dangerous and beautiful northern Japanese wilderness in the 1600s are all things that you can look forward to.
While Ghost of Yōtei is being sold as a separate game, it is clear that it builds on what Tsushima did. The game takes place 300 years after the events of the first game, but instead of Tsushima Island’s familiar shores, it moves to Mount Yōtei’s snowy peaks and flower-filled valleys. With the change in time and place comes a new leader: Atsu, a lone mercenary seeking revenge.
The official PlayStation Store page says that Ghost of Yōtei is about Atsu’s journey sixteen years after her family was brutally killed. She goes all over rural Japan to find a group of six criminals because she wants to get even with them. The “vengeance for murdered family” trope may sound tired, especially to fans who just finished Assassin’s Creed Shadows. But how the story is told, not how it starts, is what will make or break this samurai saga.
There will be bloody swordplay, but there will also be times of reflection and peace. Atsu’s story isn’t just about killing people; it’s also about healing, growth, and cultural beauty. He painted sumi, prayed at shrines, and trained under an experienced sensei. Atsu will be the main character, but the world will also play a role.
Ghost of Yōtei is adding more depth and customization to battles. The game adds new weapons, like dual katanas, and unlockable skills, like the ability to take enemies’ weapons away in the middle of a fight and launch powerful new attacks. These parts will be shown off in full at the next State of Play, but early descriptions of the variety and tactical options are already getting people excited.
In the open world, Atsu will find statues to unlock, side quests to complete, and new skills to use. Many fans are wondering how the game will handle its open-world design, though. Will it take a more refined and focused approach like Tsushima did, or will it become too big like some recent open-world games?
It appears that Sucker Punch is aware of this concern. There’s hope that the game will strike a good balance between deep exploration and story pacing, despite the world appearing very large. No one wants to endure another 150-hour grind with side missions that are just copied and pasted. Fans really want Yōtei to be “all killer, no filler.”
The fact that Jin Sakai, the beloved main character of Ghost of Tsushima, is not in Ghost of Yōtei has caused a lot of disagreement. It’s clear that Atsu is the main character, but some fans are upset that Jin was left out. But since the story takes place hundreds of years later, it makes sense—though it wouldn’t hurt to have a few flashbacks or references to Jin’s history.
Still, most people have been positive about it. This isn’t like Intergalactic, where trailers are constantly being flooded with bad reviews. Even the fans who miss Jin are excited for what comes next. Who knows, maybe a new game will be released that returns to the original Ghost for those who are still holding out hope?
Specifically, Sony has demonstrated two digital versions:
- Standard Edition costs $70
- The digital deluxe edition costs $80
The deluxe version of the game includes cosmetic items and extras, but early access will not be included, unlike in Death Stranding 2. This makes Yōtei one of the few PlayStation-only games this year that won’t have an early access window when it releases. Outer Worlds 2 is also coming out in October with a base price of $80, so Yōtei’s price might give it a slight edge for fans on a budget.
The State of Play might not be hard to sell to people who already like the game, but for others, this is Sony’s best chance to get more people to play. There hasn’t been a new Ghost game since 2020, and Yōtei is introducing a new main character, a new era, and improved combat systems. This presentation will shape the story of the game before its release.
You can expect in-depth gameplay walkthroughs, story summaries, and maybe even a few surprises. But if you’d like to start a new game without knowing anything about it, you might want to skip the event.
The Ghost of Yōtei appears to be a strong, stylish follow-up that pays homage to its predecessor while also taking a completely new direction. There is a lot to look forward to, whether you’re drawn to the sword fights, the powerful story, or the beautiful settings.
