While Ghost of Yotei will match Ghost of Tsushima in size and scope, Sucker Punch says it’s taking a new approach to exploration, with fewer copy-paste objectives and more varied outcomes across the map.
First revealed during PlayStation’s July State of Play, Ghost of Yotei made a strong impression with its brutal new combat, expanded arsenal, and a fresh Hokkaido setting.
The studio has confirmed the game will offer a similar runtime to its predecessor, with the main story clocking in around 25 hours and full completion expected to hit 60. However, this time, the journey will have less repetition and more “fresh” content for players to discover.
Ghost of Yotei will feature less repetitive content
Speaking to Automaton, creative directors Nate Fox and Jason Connell opened up about the lessons they’ve learned from Tsushima and how they’re building on that foundation with Ghost of Yotei.
According to Fox, while Tsushima’s open world had charm and depth, many of its exploration activities became monotonous. “We felt this from the player feedback as well,” he said, specifically calling out the shrine-tracking fox minigames that started to feel like a chore by the end.
That won’t be the case in Ghost of Yotei. “We won’t be making players go through the same thing all over again whenever their curiosity leads them to encountering new secrets during exploration,” Fox said.
Instead, the team has reimagined how players discover secrets and side content. Every encounter is being designed to feel fresh, with different outcomes and experiences meant to “go beyond the player’s expectations.”
With Ghost of Yotei launching October 2, the team is promising a world just as beautiful as Tsushima, only this time, filled with surprises at every turn.
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