Ghost of Yotei Could Be the Testing Grounds for a Future PlayStation Trend

Ghost of Yotei Could Be the Testing Grounds for a Future PlayStation Trend

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that the announcement of Ghost of Yotei has sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Sucker Punch’s decision to take the series in a new direction, both temporally and thematically, is nothing short of bold and refreshing.


Through the creation of Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch is venturing into uncharted territory and surprising fans. For nearly five years, discussions have centered around the potential sequel to Ghost of Tsushima , with people wondering about the story’s direction, the introduction of new features, and significant changes from its initial iteration. However, few anticipated that it would be set several centuries in the future, featuring a protagonist who appears to have no direct link to Jin Sakai.

Introducing the new character Atsu significantly expands the possibilities for Ghost of Yotei, surpassing just the element of surprise. Although there might have been an opportunity to continue the story with Jin as the protagonist given the historical context of a second Mongol invasion on Tsushima island after the first, it could have appeared contrived. This is often a problem when expanding franchises: if the creative team lacks a coherent vision for a multi-part narrative, there’s a risk that the story may lose momentum, becoming more influenced by market demands than the original creative ideas that gave life to the project.

Ghost of Yotei Switching Protagonists Is a Good Decision, and Other Sony Games Should Follow Suit

Ghost of Yotei Ensures Longevity With a Loose Commitment to Protagonists

In terms of future projects for this franchise, Sony hasn’t made it clear how many more games they intend to finance, but the upcoming game, “Ghost of Yotei,” seems to expand the creative possibilities with Atsu. This leaves Sucker Punch with plenty of room to explore diverse narratives in the future. By essentially turning the “Ghost” series into an anthology, Sucker Punch is now free to tell a wide range of stories, as they’re not bound to one specific character or setting. This freedom allows them to avoid situations that may feel forced or lack potential.

This is an aspect that other Sony-managed franchises could benefit from adopting. Currently, series like Horizon Zero Dawn are characterized by their main characters, but this won’t last indefinitely – history has shown us that gaming companies will attempt to extend the lifespan of successful franchises for as long as possible. However, maintaining a single protagonist across numerous installments can pose challenges due to complications mentioned earlier, and Horizon Zero Dawn isn’t the only Sony franchise grappling with this dilemma. Other examples include:

  • God of War
  • Uncharted
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man
  • The Last of Us

The Future of Sony’s Franchises Could Be Defined by Variety

The Spirit of Yotei stirs anticipation for the Tsushima sequel by breaking conventions, which is positive. This adds an element of excitement and prevents it from becoming monotonous or routine. Furthermore, this experimentation paves the way for future innovations in storytelling. As video game narratives evolve, such creative exploration and openness to change will be vital for franchises aiming to maintain relevance across multiple installments. Today’s audiences are growing weary of the shallow commitment and interchangeable nature often associated with franchises like the MCU, and it is not unusual for video game series to face similar issues of weariness.

Instead of strictly adhering to particular characters from gaming IPs like Kratos in God of War, Nathan Drake in Uncharted, or Selene in Returnal, other Sony franchises could maximize the potential of their worlds, mechanics, and traditions by focusing more on the essence of these IPs. This might allow God of War to expand beyond Kratos, Uncharted to tell tales with characters other than Nathan Drake, and Returnal to delve into diverse sci-fi themes with characters other than Selene. Perhaps Ghost of Yotei is an early indication that Sony studios are moving towards prioritizing creative freedom and risk-taking over tradition.

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2024-10-13 19:04