Sucker Punch Productions has just announced the latest entry in the Ghost of Tsushima franchise during this week’s PlayStation State of Play. Titled Ghost of Yōtei, the game is set to release on PlayStation 5 in 2025 and features a new protagonist, a woman named Atsu.
A New Hero
The trailer opens with breathtaking landscape shots of Japan, and it’s surprising when the date “1603” appears, indicating that Ghost of Yōtei takes place around 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. Jin Sakai is long gone by this point. Andrew Goldfarb, Senior Communications Manager for Sucker Punch, explains on the PlayStation Blog, “…we looked beyond Jin Sakai’s story and the island of Tsushima, and shifted our focus to the idea of the Ghost instead…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. This led us to Ghost of Yōtei: a new protagonist, a new story to unfold, and a new region of Japan to explore.”
The trailer showcases Atsu in various locations around Mount Yōtei, the game’s setting taking place in present-day Hokkaido. We see her riding a horse through fields of tall grass, standing on cliff edges overlooking stunning vistas, trudging through snowy tundras, resting by a campfire beneath the starry sky, and, of course, engaging in a cinematic duel reminiscent of the first game.
Several aspects of the trailer stood out to me, but the most striking was how much it evoked the spirit of Red Dead Redemption 2. Seeing Atsu as a wandering warrior exploring the lands surrounding Mount Yōtei reminded me of my favorite wandering outlaw, Arthur Morgan. The music also has a western flair to it. The trailer captures the same atmospheric vibes as Red Dead Redemption 2, and if there’s one open-world game worth drawing inspiration from, it’s definitely that one.
Traditions and Tranquility
Another intriguing detail is Atsu’s encounter with a wolf. In Ghost of Tsushima, we met many animals during Jin’s journey, from foxes and birds to bears. Could Atsu have a wolf companion? Who knows, but that possibility is pretty exciting. Atsu is also seen with a shamisen, a traditional stringed instrument, slung across her back. One of my favorite aspects of Ghost of Tsushima was the meditative moments and mini-games, like composing haikus, cutting bamboo stands, and relaxing at hot springs. It seems Ghost of Yōtei will retain that spirit, possibly allowing players to play music as part of their journey.
Atsu is voiced by Erika Ishii, a rapidly rising performer in the gaming industry. Erika will also be one of the four voices behind Rook, the protagonist of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but I know her best as the voice of Ana Bray in Destiny 2. While there’s no confirmation yet on whether Ghost of Yōtei will be fully playable in Japanese, given that the first game offered that option, we’ll likely see it return here.
Other announcements from the State of Play include free Astro Bot DLC coming later this year, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered releasing on October 31st, a new expansion for Alan Wake 2, release dates for Fantasian Neo Dimension and Monster Hunter: Wilds, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, and more. You can check out the Iron Lords’ reactions to the State of Play here. What are you hoping to see from Ghost of Yōtei?
