In the September 2024’s State of Play presentation of Sony, the Sucker Punch studio dropped the first look of their next game in the critically acclaimed Ghost series, named Ghost of Yōtei. In this game, we will follow the female protagonist, Atsu who wields a shamisen along with a traditional samurai sword. According to the first-look video, Atsu travels in the wilds of Mount Yōtei accompanied by a mysterious wolf companion. The released trailer promises high-quality gameplay, flashy sword fights and a unique storyline. Ghost of Yōtei is set to launch at the end of 2025 on PlayStation.
The Predecessor
In 2020, Sucker Punch Studios took the gaming world by storm with the release of Ghosts of Tsushima back. This game earned the respect of both players and critics because of its quiet and contemplative moments, which are mostly missing from modern games. The Akira Kurosawa-style samurai action added a new dimension to the game.
On 16th May 2024, this game was also launched on PC mainly because of the continuous demand of the players. Not only that, but Sucker Punch Studios have confirmed that a live-action movie based on this game is also in the making, and director Chad Stahelski, famous for his work in John Wick, is leading the project. Sony has confirmed that Ghost of Yōtei will offer the same kind of beautiful observation moments as its predecessor while adding new features and gameplay mechanisms.
What to Expect from Ghost of Yōtei
Although Sony and Sucker Punch Studios have not dived into the story specifically yet, it is confirmed that Atsu’s journey will take place in 1603, around 300 years after the events of Ghosts of Tsushima. The story is set in lands surrounding Mount Yōtei, the area which is known as Hokkaido in the present day. At that time, this area was outside of the rule of Japan, hence filled with sprawling grasslands, snowy tundras and unimaginable dangers.
There are no organized samurai clans like Tsushima, and the plot promises unpredictability and stunning visual effects. Both Sony and Sucker Punch Studios are working to make the world feel more real, with whole new skies featuring countless stars and auroras, more believable movement of grass due to wind and a vast map. New weapons and game mechanics are also included to enable a compelling and engaging experience for the players.
Will Ghost of Yōtei be available on PC anytime soon?
In 2025, the Ghost of Yōtei is being released as a PlayStation Exclusive. In the initial phase, Sony took years to launch their exclusive title to the PC; however, the recent trends are telling a completely different story.
| Play Station Exclusive Game Titles | Console Release Date | PC Release Date |
| Horizon Forbidden West | February 18, 2022 | August 25, 2022 |
| Ghost of Tsushima | August 20, 2021 | May 16, 2023 |
| God of War Ragnarok | November 9, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered | September 8, 2020 | August 12, 2022 |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | November 12, 2020 | February 18, 2022 |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | June 11, 2021 | July 26, 2022 |
The table proves that Sony is now focusing on releasing their PS Exclusive titles for PC within a short period of time (around two years). So, it is safe to assume that by the end of 2027, we will be able to enjoy the Ghost of Yōtei on our PC.
2025: A year for highly anticipated games
In 2025, multiple large studios are launching their big titles. Rockstar is launching Grand Theft Auto VI (popularly known as GTA 6) on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Id Software is launching Doom: The Dark Ages, which has a loyal player base. At the same time, Gearbox Software announced Borderlands 4. Ubisoft has announced Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which is also a game featuring Japan and samurai. However, Ghost of Yōtei is only receiving praise, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows is facing huge fan outrage because of problematic characters and storyline.
Ubisoft is also in big trouble for the recent sexual harassment cases, due to which it has delayed its new entry in Assassin’s Creed IP. Ubisoft has admitted that its Star Wars Outlaws have failed miserably; hence, it did not want to compete with the successor of Ghosts of Tsushima, as both of these games are set in historical Japanese settings and feature samurais. So, in 2025, Ghost of Yōtei is expected to become the best game in the samurai and sword action genre.
Sony’s Transition to Larger Entertainment Franchise
Sony is now focusing on turning its PlayStation franchises into blockbuster movies and TV shows. Sony has developed a highly successful and critically acclaimed TV Show out of their widely popular game, The Last of Us, which has redefined the Zombie genre. One of the most popular PS Exclusive titles, Uncharted, has been converted into a movie with the same name, featuring Tom Holland, which has done business for over 400 million dollars. We are also receiving a movie about Ghosts of Tsushima in the coming years.
Sony also has big plans for the recently announced game Ghost of Yōtei; after the successful launch, we can expect a movie or TV show from this storyline as well. Not just Sony, but there is an overall trend in terms of making movies and TV shows based on the game characters. In 2023, the second highest-grossing movie was The Super Mario Bros. Movie based on Nintendo’s icon, which made more than 1.3 billion dollars at the box office. This year, the Borderland movie was also released, and there is Arcane (based on League of Legends).
Looking Forward
Within hours after the launch of the trailer, the viewership crossed one million, indicating the excitement of the fans about Ghost of Yōtei. PlayStation has developed a name for itself by continuously launching polished and superior exclusive games, so it is hard to believe that Ghost of Yōtei will be an exception. However, only time will tell if this new title will be able to match with its predecessor’s success.
Some Screenshots are stared by the X handle of Sucker Punch Productions
We are thrilled that Atsu is played by the amazing Erika Ishii!
#GhostOfYotei pic.twitter.com/lYZxM3GhYN
— Sucker Punch Productions (@SuckerPunchProd) September 24, 2024It's beautiful. I've looked at Ghost of Yōtei 4K screenshots for 5 hours now. pic.twitter.com/OTBXCB6uTA
— PlayStation UK (@PlayStationUK) September 25, 2024FAQ
When will Ghost of Yōtei be released on PlayStation?
Ghost of Yōtei is set to launch at the end of 2025 on PlayStation.
When will Ghost of Yōtei be available on PC?
It is safe to assume that by the end of 2027, we will be able to enjoy the Ghost of Yōtei on our PC.
Other than Ghost of Yōtei, which AAA titles are releasing in 2025?
Grand Theft Auto VI (popularly known as GTA 6), Doom: The Dark Ages, Borderlands 4 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
