Ghost of Yotei’s Premise May Exclude One Tsushima Mechanic

Ghost of Yotei is certainly a massive surprise, as it commits to leaving Ghost of Tsushima‘s Jin Sakai behind to introduce a new protagonist, Atsu, as well as a brand-new story set 300 years after the first game, in the heart of Ezo during Japan’s Edo period. With Ghost of Yotei being set so far in the future from Ghost of Tsushima, players can expect some considerable changes in the first game’s systems, with history suggesting its samurai stance-based combat mechanics will be abandoned in the sequel.

In light of the history and evolution of the samurai between Ghost of Tsushima‘s time period and Ghost of Yotei‘s, the stances players used in the first game’s combat may not have a place in the sequel. Furthermore, the new character of Atsu may be more than enough reason for that style of fighting to be left in the past as well, although that would see an entirely new combat system taking the stage.

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Ghost of Yotei’s Edo Period Saw a Major Shift in Samurai Tradition

Perhaps the most prominent indicator that suggests Ghost of Tsushima‘s stance-based combat approach will be out the window in Ghost of Yotei is the evolution of samurai tradition between Tsushima‘s time period and that of Yotei. Whereas samurai were immensely traditional in Ghost of Tsushima, primarily filling roles in which they actively engage in battle and serve in the military, their traditions changed significantly with the arrival of Ghost of Yotei‘s Edo period. Specifically, the Edo period saw large-scale warfare cease, thereby no longer requiring the samurai to fight as much as they once did, forcing them to take on new roles.

During Ghost of Yotei‘s Edo period, many samurai transitioned to bureaucratic or administrative positions, serving as officials in the daimyo’s domains or the shogunate’s government. Additionally, many of them left behind their battle-hardened lifestyle to become scholars, teachers, or managers of land and resources. This wasn’t all, however, as many samurai were only paid stipends by their lords, which led to them struggling financially and adopting side professions or, in extreme cases, becoming ronin. At first glance, it appears Atsu may be ronin herself, and while that would mean her roots are samurai, it doesn’t necessarily mean her traditions are, or that she was ever traditional to begin with.

Ghost of Yotei’s Atsu May Not Carry On Jin’s Stances From Tsushima

In addition to the changes that took place in samurai tradition over the three centuries between Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei, Atsu likely has a different backstory, training, motive, and combat philosophy. More than likely, Atsu hasn’t had access to the fighting style that Jin was basically born into, and therefore, the techniques that he used regularly could be very unfamiliar to her. Instead, Atsu could rely on unique combat styles or skills that align more closely with her personal journey and the challenges she faces in Ghost of Yotei. At the very least, Atsu’s combat style is likely to change as the game progresses, with her character development playing a significant role there, just as Jin’s did with his own combat approach.

With the Edo period largely leaving traditions of the samurai in the past, and the potential of Atsu’s personal journey impacting her approach to combat, it’s likely Ghost of Yotei will be leaving Ghost of Tsushima‘s stances in the past, along with Jin’s legacy. This isn’t necessarily a negative, however, as it would potentially mean a brand-new fighting style for Ghost of Yotei that would discourage it from feeling too repetitive in the long run. Developers often revise gameplay mechanics in sequels to innovate and keep the experience fresh, so that is expected with Ghost of Yotei. What, specifically, that will look like, remains to be seen, but Sucker Punch has confirmed that more details are on the way.

The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei is a PS5 exclusive scheduled to drop at some point in 2025. Taking place in 1603, the story will feature a new protagonist and a new Japanese region that is far removed from Tsushima’s setting.

Action

Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

2025

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment