Sucker Punch leans on research and reverence to avoid the backlash swirling around Ubisoft’s Japan-set title when they release Ghost of Yotei.
Set in feudal Japan like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ghost of Yōtei also features a revenge-driven warrior, sprawling open-world exploration, and a rich historical backdrop.
But as Ubisoft faces ongoing scrutiny in Japan, Sucker Punch is making its moves with visible caution.
Ghost of Yōtei moves carefully as Assassin’s Creed Shadows stirs cultural controversy
Assassin’s Creed Shadows sparked widespread backlash in Japan following its announcement. The game upset many in Japan because it showed sacred places, like shrines and temples, in violent game scenes.
People also criticized the game’s historical mistakes and felt the characters didn’t reflect real Japanese culture. Some thought the game used Japan just for profit, without true respect.
A petition against the game garnered over 100,000 signatures. Lawmakers and religious leaders weighed in, particularly after trailers showed in-game destruction of shrine artifacts. Ubisoft later issued a patch to limit this, but not before the controversy escalated.
Sucker Punch, by contrast, appears to have taken notes.
In a PlayStation Blog post, Game Director Nate Fox detailed the team’s approach: multiple research trips, time spent with locals, and a strong focus on cultural authenticity.
“As a bunch of Americans we knew how ignorant we were about Japanese culture. To help start to solve that problem we met with a wealth of knowledgeable individuals and visited important cultural sites,” Fox wrote.
Set in 1603 Hokkaido, then known as Ezo, the game follows Atsu, a woman seeking revenge in a land still wild and mysterious. Developers chose the region specifically for its dramatic tension.
“Hokkaido is unbelievably beautiful and in 1603 it was the edge of the Japanese empire,” Fox noted. “This combination of beauty and danger spoke to us.”
The team’s hikes through bear-marked forests and awe-inspiring landscapes shaped their vision. “That experience was magic! A perfect marriage of beauty and danger, that was the exact feeling we wanted for our game,” Fox recalled. “For me, that was the moment I knew Hokkaido was the right choice.”
With Ghost of Yōtei launching this fall, comparisons to Ghost of Tsushima and AC Shadows are inevitable. Sucker Punch has big shoes to fill and an entire culture to honor. So far, they’re stepping lightly.
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