Sucker Punch
When does Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei take place?
With the announcement of Ghost of Yotei and its new setting and protagonist, fans are wondering just when these games are set and how they are connected. Here’s what we know.
Ghost of Yotei, a sequel/succesor to the incredibly successful open world samurai adventure developed by Sucker Punch, Ghost of Tsushima, was recently announced by Sony as an upcoming exclusive title for the PlayStation 5. And while we know that the game is coming to 2025, the change in location, era, and even protagonist has confused some fans. When exactly are these games set in? How are they related, and what makes the franchise so interesting and compelling?
When do the ‘Ghost of’ games take place?
The original game in the Sucker Punch franchise, Ghost of Tsushima, was entirely focused on the story of Jin Sakai, a noble Samurai of the Sakai clan who sees himself as the last surviving warrior on the island of Tsushima during the second Mongol invasion of Japan in the year 1274. During the game Jin becomes the fabled “Ghost”, taking vengeance upon the conquering Mongols and decimating their forces, all while straying from the way of the Samurai in order to better deal with the invading forces. It is a story of honor and duty, and of the things one must be willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their goals, be them their beliefs or their discipline.
As of right now, not many details about Ghost of Yotei are known. However, it’s been revealed that the game will be set in 1603, a bit over 300 years after the first game, and that it will be set in the surrounding territories of Mount Yotei, a mountain in the northern islands of the Japanese archipelago that at the time of this new title was not under Japanese rule. In present times, the area is part of Hokkaido, but back then it was a lawless place where Ronin (masterless samurai) prowled in search of freedom, work, or fortune. Players will take control of Atsu, a new “ghost” that seems to be on the run, ready to become a new legend.
Why did Sucker Punch choose to change the setting of the game?
The change of main character surprised many, and it has even angered a small portion of the fanbase who were highly invested in his story. However, the developers have already addressed why the change was made. In a PlayStation blog post about the upcoming title, they said that they “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.”
They 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.”
Ghost of Yotei is coming at some point in 2025, exclusively for the PlayStation 5.
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