News | Everything we know about Ghost of Yotei
The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, from InFamous developer Sucker Punch, has been announced. Ghost of Yotei tells a new story, with a new protagonist in a different era. In this overview, we will keep you informed about the release date and other information about the game.
The exact release date for Ghost of Yotei is currently unknown. The game was announced in September’s State of Play in 2024. It was stated that Ghost of Yotei is set to release sometime in 2025, approximately five years after the release of Ghost of Tsushima.
The game will be released on the PlayStation 5, and most likely there will also be a PS5 Pro version. Nothing is known about a PC version. Ghost of Tsushima also came to Steam in May 2024, so we may have to wait a while for a PC port after Ghost of Yotei’s release.
The story of Jin Sakai seems to have come to an end in Ghost of Tsushima and its Iki Island expansion. In Ghost of Yotei, players take on the role of the new character Atsu – played by Erika Ishii. Who exactly she is, is not entirely clear in the reveal trailer. Sucker Punch did reveal via PlayStation Blog that the legend of the Ghost – which began in the previous game with Jin Sakai – will be continued.
However, an as yet unknown character describes her as a hunter, who hunts “beyond the borders of Japan”, in an area where people come to disappear. Meanwhile, the Ronin (samurai without a master) are apparently on Atsu’s heels, but why that is, is not yet known. Who exactly Atsu is trying to find is unclear, although she seems to draw a line through a kanji symbol in the first trailer. The Straw Hat Ronin group was already an enemy faction in Ghost of Tsushima, but whether that storyline has any influence on the sequel is unclear.
In general, connections to the predecessor in Ghost of Yotei will probably remain limited. The sequel is set some 330 years after Ghost of Tsushima, so we most likely do not have to expect familiar characters. Descendants of the Ghost and his comrades, however, may make their appearance.
Ghost of Yotei is also set in an entirely new area of Japan than the 2020 title, namely the titular Yotei – now known as Hokkaido. Yotei is also the name of the large mountain in northern Japan that can be seen during the trailer. In this new game, the mountain and the area surrounding it can be explored.
In 1603, when the game is set, Yotei was not part of Japan, which is also mentioned in the reveal trailer. In Japan itself, this year was also significant, as the country transitioned from the war-torn Sengoku period to the peaceful Edo period. This transition could potentially serve as a backdrop for Ghost of Yotei’s story.
A few bits of gameplay from Ghost of Yotei were shown here and there in the reveal trailer. Familiar aspects from Ghost of Tsushima can be seen in it, such as horse riding and exploring colorful environments and duels in the old Japanese landscape. The wind seems to help Atsu on her way again during her journey, in this way replacing waypoints.
There are also new additions to be seen in the trailer. For example, Atsu seems to have two katanas at her disposal, which she can use simultaneously, and she has a good bond with a wolf. Whether the beast also has an influence on the gameplay is unknown. The fights in Ghost of Yotei are also apparently expanded with firearms such as muskets.
The addition of firearms is also apparently part of Sucker Punch’s urge to create a unique open world with Ghost of Yotei. In an interview with The New York Times, a developer says: ‘a challenge in making an open world game is the repetition of doing the same thing over and over again. We want to balance that with unique experiences.’
News | Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Launch Trailer
Sony has released a launch trailer for Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, due out Friday.
In addition to an all-new island in the form of Iki Island, the Director’s Cut features all of the content from the original PlayStation 4 game, as well as all of the content released since then. In addition to the new story and characters, the island features new environments to explore, new protective gear for Jin and his horse to unlock, and new enemies and mini-games to find.
On PlayStation 5, the game is also improved in several areas. For example, the lips of characters now move with the recorded Japanese voices, the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller is fully utilized, there is 3D audio, a 4k resolution, frame rates that aim for 60 fps and improved loading times.
The Director’s Cut will be available separately on PS4 ($59.99) and PS5 ($69.99), but people who already own the PlayStation 4 version of Ghost of Tsushima can upgrade to the Director’s Cut for $20 on PS4, and for $30 on PS5. In addition, all saved progression can be transferred to the Director’s Cut, even when switching from PS4 to PS5.
News | Free Expansion for Legends Mode Ghost of Tsushima Revealed
An expansion for Ghost of Tsushima's Legends mode is coming out.
It’s about Rivals. While in the also free to download Legends mode players work together in cooperative missions, in Rivals you have to compete against each other by defeating as many enemies as possible. With each defeated enemy, Magatama is unlocked, which can get in the way of the other team. The expansion will be available on September 3.
Incidentally, a standalone version of Legends will also be released on September 3. This will cost 20 euros and is for people who only want to play the cooperative mode.
As previously announced, Ghost of Tsushima’s Director’s Cut will be released on August 20 for PS4 and PS5. This also includes the Legends mode and all associated content. From then on, the developer also has to make various adjustments to the mode, based on feedback from players. For example, the Survival mode will be shortened and weekly challenges will become available. From September 10 to October 1, Sucker Punch should add new content to the mode every week.
News | Sucker Punch is working on a standalone Ghost of Ikishima expansion
Ghost of Tsushima developer Sucker Punch Productions may be working on a standalone expansion for the game.
That reports Xbox Era journalist Nick Baker. Baker recently correctly predicted unannounced games, including the sequel to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.
The game would be called ‘Ghost of Ikishima’ and should be released this year. In response to a tweet, Baker reveals that the game’s concept is similar to Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, presumably making it smaller in size. Platforms are still unknown.
Ikishima, in Dutch Ika, is a smaller island southeast of Tsushima. In 1274, the same year Ghost of Tsushima takes place, Iki was also conquered by the Mongols.
Ghosts of Ikishima. An Expandalone type game. Aiming for 2021. Not sure how so many seemed to find out so quick.
— Nick (@Shpeshal_Nick) June 24, 2021
The game has not been officially announced yet.
News | Ghost of Tsushima directors receive award from the actual island of Tsushima's mayor .
Ghost of Tsushima directors Nate Fox and Jason Conell receive an award from the mayor of the actual city of Tsushima.
Mayor Hiroki Hitakatsu says in a statement that both are being rewarded for spreading Tsushima’s name and history.
“Even a lot of Japanese people don’t know the history of the Gen-ko period. When it comes to the world, the name and location of Tsushima is literally unknown, so I can’t thank them enough for telling our story. with such phenomenal graphics and deep storytelling. “
Fox and Conell are official Tourism Ambassadors, ‘until they don’t want the title anymore’. Hitakatsu also says it is working with developer Sucker Punch and Sony Interactive Entertainment to create a tourism campaign based on the game.
Ghost of Tsushima was released for PlayStation 4 last year. The game tells the story of the Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima and sold 5 million units.
News | Ghost of Tsushima will receive outfits based on PlayStation franchises
Free outfits have been released for Ghost of Tsushima based on well-known PlayStation franchises.
The free update adds main character Jin outfits based on God of War, Bloodborne, Horizon Zero Dawn and Bloodborne. Players can unlock the outfits until January 15 by completing a story or survival mission with the four different classes.
Outfits inspired by iconic PlayStation characters come to Ghost of Tsushima.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 18, 2020
Unlock wearable homages to God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus, and Bloodborne by completing a Story or Survival mission with each class before January 15. pic.twitter.com/VCbBc7Virh
It’s not the first free content to come to the PlayStation 4 game. Previously, a multiplayer mode in the form of Legends has already been added to the game.
News | Ghost of Tsushima: Legends and New Game + are coming October 16th
The previously announced Legends cooperative multiplayer mode for Ghost of Tsushima will be released on October 16. Developer Sucker Punch has announced this via the PlayStation Blog.
Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is a free update to the PS4-exclusive game, released earlier this year. In the new mode, you can compete with friends. There are story missions for two players, or survival missions for groups of four. Another raid will be added later this year.
Players must first download version 1.1 of the game, then they can find the free update on PlayStation Store. A PlayStation Plus subscription is required to play with others online. You can start Legends by talking to the new character Gyozen the Storyteller in-game, or by launching it directly from the main menu.
In addition to the new game mode, other updates are also being made for the game. For example, New Game + is added, which allows you to restart the game after you finish it. You then keep all earned upgrades, but the difficulty level is also increased (although you can adjust it manually).
Furthermore, new options are added to the photo mode and it becomes easier to switch between different sets of gear and talismans.
News | Ghost of Tsushima is getting free co-op experience this fall
Ghost of Tsushima will be releasing a free update this fall that adds a cooperative multiplayer experience to the game.
Called Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, this experience is a new mode where players take on linear missions together with friends. The multiplayer mode does not take place in the open world of the main game. In these missions, players choose from four different classes, Samurai, Hunter, Ronin and Assassin, with each player having their own unique skills.
The narrative co-op missions feature different types of enemies based on Japanese myths. Where the main game focuses mainly on history, there are supernatural situations and enemies in Legends. The mode also includes a Survival mode, which is basically a horde mode and lets players fight against persistent waves of enemies.
Players who complete all missions in Legends and Survival will gain access to a Raid. However, this Raid will not be available at launch. There aren’t any more details about this.
The free Ghost of Tsushima: Legends update should be available to all owners of the PS4 game sometime this fall.
News | Ghost of Tsushima sells 2.4 million units in three days
Ghost of Tsushima has sold 2.4 million units worldwide within three days. This makes it the fastest-selling new Sony IP.
As revealed on Sony’s Twitter. That makes the game sell faster than Horizon Zero Dawn, the previous fastest-selling new Sony exclusive. It was recently announced that The Last of Us: Part 2 is currently the fastest-selling PS4 exclusive game ever, with 4 million copies sold in the opening weekend.
Ghost of Tsushima is now PS4's fastest selling first-party original IP debut with more than 2.4 million units sold through globally in its first 3 days of sales.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 24, 2020
Congratulations @SuckerPunchProd, and thank you to fans around the world for taking part in Jin's journey. pic.twitter.com/6aE4U7YZJH
Ghost of Tsushima was released last week and got an 9,0 in our review.
Review | Ghost of Tsushima
At Sucker Punch they could have just shouted "If Ubisoft won't do it, we'll do it!" in their conference room. Ghost of Tsushima is very similar to Ubisoft's showpiece. The main difference is something that many a fan has longed for, feudal Japan as the main setting. I myself have waited long for this and am very glad with the upcoming AC Valhalla but the feudal japan setting is something I've longed for for a verry long, long time.
Players take on the role of samurai Jin Sakai, during the Mongol invasion of Japan in the late thirteenth century, Jin’s island of Tsushima is the first place where the war breaks out. In the action-packed opening scene, Jin and his companions are defeated by the Mongol warriors, for whom no tactic is too cruel. This defeat makes it painfully clear to Jin that the traditional, honorable way of the samurai is not enough to defeat the Mongols. He has to become the Ghost of Tsushima.
Jin therefore constantly learns new fighting styles. He is already a skilled swordsman and quickly handles the bow ,with great finesse. But also less “honorable” weapons such as poison arrows and smoke bombs are part of his ever expanding arsenal to fight the Mongols. Moreover, Jin learns how to silently commit assassinations, for example by striking from the tall grass or by jumping on someone from a roof.
Ghost of Tsushima consists largely of fighting, which is very rewarding. The combat system seems simple, with a normal and heavy attack and a button to block or repel. However, Jin has different fighting stances that are effective against different types of enemies. Therefore, you would prefer to attack an enemy with a spear in a different fighting position than an enemy with a shield.
It takes patience and practice to master the system, let alone throw a smoke bomb in a fluid motion and aim an explosive arrow between someone’s eyes. However, as soon as it works out you’ll feel very powerful. It’s graceful if you combine all the different elements perfectly and efficiently turn your enemies into sashimi.
You will always encounter an opponent who is just a bit faster or smarter. Sucker Punch does not choose the cheap solution where an enemy that looks exactly the same is suddenly unbeatable because it has a higher level. Some enemies wear visibly heavier armor or suddenly wear a helmet, while some swordsmen sometimes surprise you with a slightly different fighting style. In addition, the game regularly presents you with one-on-one duels that require more concentration. The differences in enemies are more subtle than in many peers, so you can’t play simply on autopilot. You’ll have to keep adjusting your play style.
Jin’s adaptability is also an important element in the story. That is not only about the struggle with the Mongols, but also about his inner struggle, he gives up the honorable way of the samurai to protect his homeland. Not only does that fit the theme well, it also creates a nice dynamic with other characters who are all affected in their own way by the Mongol invasion.
Jin gathers a group of likable characters, each with their own storyline that runs parallel to the main story. That makes these side missions more interesting, because you get to know the main characters better. At the same time, this bond with the side characters reinforces the main story.
The game also has a nice rhythm, which automatically creates space for these side missions and the other activities on the island. Ghost of Tsushima is divided into clear deeds, so you know well what an appropriate time to do side missions and when you can prepare for a big confrontation. Fortunately, the story is not predictable. Ghost of Tsushima throws enough surprises at your feet to captivate and move you to the end.
The rest of the side missions and other activities are almost always a repeat of moves. Helping villagers, freeing settlements or just fighting with a Mongol patrol remains fun for a long time thanks to the strong fighting system. The so-called Fox Dens, on the other hand, become repetitive after a few times. Here a fox leads you to an altar, but this tune is exactly the same time and time again. Writing a haiku has been found funny, although it ultimately consists of choosing no more than three sentences that appear on the screen.
Outside of these activities, Tsushima looks somewhat empty and old-fashioned. Climbing is only possible in the designated places and the people of Tsushima hardly respond to your presence. Villagers usually don’t even have a routine and just stare in front of them.
For example, we gave a group of refugees access to a temple by speaking to a monk, but received no rewards or thanks. Another time we knocked out a Mongolian catapult and received some raw materials from the locals as a reward. A trail of dead foxes and deer, on the other hand, led to nothing. Sometimes it is as if the development has stopped in some places.
The game world itself, on the other hand, is beautifully designed. Sucker Punch does not aim at photo-realism, but romanticizes and exaggerates the image we have of Japan. The shimmering moonlight and the dazzling rising sun are beautiful to see. Colorful flower fields dance in the wind and so many leaves and pollen float through the air that you spontaneously get hay fever.
Lovers of classic samurai films can switch on the Kurosawa mode so that everything is monochrome and the sound creaks old-fashioned, but that is actually a waste of the beautiful colors and also of the atmospheric, authentic music! The game, on the other hand, also has the option to turn on extra dramatic contrast, if the colors aren’t bright enough yet.
However, the landscape not only functions as eye candy, it also has a practical use. Most open world games do have something of a map or radar in view, but Ghost of Tsushima solves it differently. The wind always blows in the direction of your goal, so you just have to look at the swirling leaves or the swishing grass to know where to go.
There are also golden yellow birds that lead you to special places. This could be an undiscovered side mission or activity, but also a new headband or hat. Fireflies from afar indicate that there is something to do somewhere and if you give a bow in the right place, butterflies, fish or leaves will whirl around you. Ghost of Tsushima is an almost spiritual experience at such moments.
Score:
9,0
+ Beautifull, detailed & wonderful world design.
+ Side missions interestingly intertwined with the main story
+ Fast loading times
+ Refined fighting system
– The game world occasionally looks empty in certain areas.
– Many activities are repeated and might come less interesting
The game has been tested on a PlayStation 4 Pro. Ghost of Tsushima is available on PlayStation 4 from July 17.