While Sucker Punch has officially announced Ghost of Yotei as the follow-up to its critically-acclaimed 2020 title, Ghost of Tsushima, many of the details surrounding the title are still unknown. The initial reveal introduced players to the protagonist, Atsu, and the game’s setting in 1603 Ezo around the base of Mt. Yotei. However, with such a time jump between Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei, it’s unlikely that the game will feature the same villains as its predecessor.
Although Jin Sakai’s quest to liberate the island of Tsushima from the invading Mongol army captivated Ghost of Tsushima players, it seems Sucker Punch wants to tell a different story with its follow-up. While a narrative involving the Second Mongol Invasion of Japan could have made for a direct sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, going with a setting centuries in the future allows Ghost of Yotei to tell a completely separate story. However, if Ghost of Yotei follows the real-world history of its setting like its predecessor, there is an obvious candidate for the game’s overarching villain.
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Ghost of Yotei’s Map Could Have a Hard Time Avoiding One Issue Tsushima Side-Stepped
Due to its setting, Ghost of Yotei might find it difficult to avoid one major issue with its map that its predecessor’s setting allowed it to avoid.
The Matsumae Clan’s Real-World History Makes Them the Likely Villains of Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei Could Explore the Conflict Between the Matsumae Clan and the Ainu
Prior to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido was largely separate from the rest of the country, being governed by the native Ainu people under the name of Ezo. The location of Mt. Yotei within Ezo and the game’s 1603 setting means players will likely see heavy Ainu influences within Ghost of Yotei‘s world and character design. However, 1603 was also a tumultuous time for the region, as Japan’s Matsumae Clan claimed dominion over Ezo against the will of the Ainu people.
In 1590, daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the Matsumae Clan the region of Ezo with the stipulation that the clan “defend” the land, as well as the rest of Japan, from what he perceived as the barbaric Ainu tribe. With this land claim formalized in 1604 with Tokugawa Ieyasu granting the clan exclusive rights to trade with the Ainu, the timeline of this Matsumae invasion of Ezo lines up perfectly with the setting for Ghost of Yotei. With the clashing of cultures between mainland Japan and Ezo sparking regional conflict, Ghost of Yotei could throw players into the thick of this tension.
The Matsumae Clan’s Invasion of Ezo Could Mirror the Mongol Invasion of Tsushima
From what has been detailed about Ghost of Yotei‘s protagonist Atsu, it’s likely players will see her journey for revenge follow some of the same narrative beats as Jin’s in Ghost of Tsushima. The parallels between the Mongol invasion of Tsushima and the Matsumae Clan’s invasion of Ezo create the foundation for a similar narrative about defending one’s home from outside forces. However, Atsu’s story could potentially be more personal as the fight to retain the Ainu culture in the face of mounting invaders was a decades-long struggle for the people of Ezo.
The leader of the Matsumae Clan who became the first daimyo of Ezo, Matsumae Yoshihiro makes the most sense as the primary antagonist of Ghost of Yotei, but the Matsumae Clan as a whole could appear as enemies throughout the game. Although there was conflict between the Ainu and the Matsumae, there was also a strong trade relationship between the two groups. As such, the nature of the relationship between the two in Ghost of Yotei could be far more complex than that of Jin Sakai and the Mongols in the previous game, potentially opening the door for players to have greater influence over the game’s story, as Sucker Punch has previously teased.
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
- Released
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2025-00-00
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment