Released in 2020, Sucker Punch Productions' Ghost of Tsushima was both a critical and commercial success for Sony. Not only was it one of Sony's fastest-selling original games, but it was also nominated for several awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2020.
There had been rumors about a sequel for a couple of months and today during Sony's State of Play, it was officially revealed as Ghost of Yotei.
Set more than 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei introduces a new hero, Atsu, and takes us to the surrounding Mount Yotei.
"When we set out to make a new Ghost game, we wanted to maintain the core pillars established in Ghost of Tsushima: playing as a wandering warrior in Feudal Japan, offering freedom to explore at your own pace, and highlighting the beauty of the world," Sucker Punch Productions explained on the PlayStation Blog.
"We also wanted to continue to innovate. To create something fresh but familiar, we looked beyond Jin Sakai’s story and the island of Tsushima, and shifted our focus to the idea of the Ghost instead," the developer continued. "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. This led us to Ghost of Yōtei: a new protagonist, a new story to unfold, and a new region of Japan to explore."
Mount Yotei is a towering peak in the heart of Ezo, an area of Japan known as Hokkaido in the present day. Sucker Punch explained, "In 1603, this area was outside the rule of Japan, and filled with sprawling grasslands, snowy tundras, and unexpected dangers. It’s a far cry from the organized samurai clans who lived in Tsushima, and it’s the setting for an original story we can’t wait to tell."
Ghost of Yotei is Sucker Punch's first game built from the ground up for PlayStation 5. Ghost of Tsushima was praised by many for its environment, with the game's world described as a "work of art." The usage of nature, like wind and birds, to help guide the player encouraged natural exploration.
With Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch is looking to build on this foundation with a world that feels even more real. "We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future," the developer teased. "Our new setting also gives us the opportunity to introduce new mechanics, gameplay improvements, and even new weapons."
A teaser trailer did accompany today's announcement. It offers just a brief glimpse into this exciting new world.
Ghost of Yotei currently has a 2025 release window for PlayStation 5.