Sucker Punch Productions has reconfirmed that Ghost of Yotei, the highly anticipated follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, will release in 2025.
Rather than continuing Jin Sakai’s story, this new entry will transport players to pre-colonial Hokkaido, set 300 years after the events of the original game.
The standalone adventure introduces a fresh protagonist voiced by Erika Ishii, known for her work in Destiny 2 and Apex Legends. This time-jump allows Sucker Punch to explore the rich yet often overlooked Ainu culture of northern Japan, offering players a distinctive historical setting rarely featured in major game releases.
Ghost of Yotei aims to build upon what made its predecessor successful while addressing some of its shortcomings. Many players felt that while Ghost of Tsushima delivered stunning visuals and satisfying combat, its side activities became repetitive. The development team appears focused on creating more varied and engaging open-world content this time around.
The original Ghost of Tsushima was a massive success for Sony, selling over 8 million copies since its 2020 release. Its gorgeous art direction, photo mode, and precise samurai combat system won widespread praise, though critics noted room for improvement in mission variety and open-world activities.
Pre-colonial Hokkaido offers a dramatically different landscape from Tsushima island. Players can expect snow-covered mountains (likely including the volcanic Mount Yotei that gives the game its name), dense forests, and coastal regions.
The setting also introduces fresh narrative possibilities with the inclusion of Ainu culture, Japan’s indigenous people who had a distinct language, religion, and customs.
New features in Ghost of Yotei
The combat system appears set for refinement rather than reinvention. Players commenting on early information hope for more nuanced fighting mechanics, moving beyond the original’s somewhat formulaic approach where specific stances countered particular enemy types.
Sucker Punch’s history of iterative improvement with the InFAMOUS series suggests they’ll likely introduce meaningful combat evolutions.
With a 2025 release window, Ghost of Yotei will arrive well into the PS5’s lifecycle, allowing the developers to fully leverage the console’s capabilities. Fans can reasonably expect improved loading times, haptic feedback implementation, and visual fidelity that surpasses the already impressive original.
