Former PlayStation executive offers high praise for Ghost of Yotei

Set for release in 2025, Ghost of Yotei is already one of the most anticipated titles of the year, standing tall alongside heavyweights like Elden Ring: Nightreign, Grand Theft Auto VI, Death Stranding 2, and more. During a recent hands-on session with an early development build, former Sony and PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida had plenty of praise for Ghost of Yotei, setting high expectations for this spiritual successor to Ghost of Tsushima.

Set in 1603, Ghost of Yotei takes place roughly 300 years after the events of Ghost of Tsushima. The story unfolds around Mount Yōtei in Hokkaido—known as Ezo at the time—far from the centralized rule of Japan, in a setting ripe with untamed wilderness, conflict, and hidden dangers.

Players take on the role of Atsu, a lone warrior on a quest for revenge, hunting down those responsible for the massacre of her family. With its fresh historical context and emotional narrative, Ghost of Yotei has the potential to explore powerful themes and new cultural landscapes.
 

Yoshida's High Praise for Ghost of Yotei

Appearing on a recent episode of the Easy Allies podcast, Shuhei Yoshida shared his impressions of Ghost of Yotei. He specifically praised Sucker Punch Productions, saying:

“Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch always make the game feel right… It’s that kind of thing where you forget you’re holding the controller—it becomes so natural and intuitive to play.”

Yoshida noted how impressed he was by the polish of the build he tested, emphasizing how bug-free the game felt—even though the combat system had undergone multiple revisions. Despite these changes, the game never once crashed during his playtests, showing just how far along it is in development.

As the former Head of PlayStation Indies, Yoshida revealed he had played multiple internal versions of both Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei prior to stepping down earlier this year.

Ghost of Yotei is shaping up to be a worthy follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, offering deeper storytelling, a fresh new location, and refined gameplay mechanics that build on everything that made the original great.

Though Ghost of Yotei is officially slated for 2025, the studio has yet to confirm a specific release window. Rumors and leaks suggest a possible summer launch, but fans should take this with a grain of salt until official confirmation.

Looking to jump in on day one? Make sure to use price our comparator tool to find the best deal for Ghost of Yotei when pre-orders go live.