Ghost of Tsushima 2 PS5 – Where Is It?

Almost four years after its launch on PS4, Sucker Punch finally announced what seemed inevitable – Ghost of Tsushima is coming to PC. The Director’s Cut is launching on May 16th and includes the base game, the Iki Island expansion and a bunch of goodies for those who pre-purchase. The announcement was rumored just a few days prior from a now-suspended Twitter profile – which we’ll get back to later – but it’s been a long time coming.

When Ghost of Tsushima launched, it sold over 2.4 million copies in the first three days, eventually crossing five million sold in the first month. It became the fastest-selling first-party IP debut for the PlayStation 4 and sold a whopping 9.7 million units as of July 2022. Not content with being one of the best open-world games ever made (which still holds to this day), Sucker Punch also launched a superb co-op multiplayer mode in the same year – Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. It received extensive support, eventually spinning off into a standalone title.

Given its critical and commercial success and how well-regarded it remains, you have to ask at this point: Where is Ghost of Tsushima 2? No, really, where is it?

When you think back to PlayStation’s other big hits – like Marvel’s Spider-Man and God of War – both titles would receive sequels nearly five years later. Game development differs from studio to studio, but announcements for follow-ups to both titles arrived about three to four years later. Ghost of Tsushima took roughly six years to develop, but we’ve known about Sucker Punch Productions hiring new developers since October 2020. A job listing for a Narrative Writer asked for an “excellent understanding of how to tell impactful, character-driven stories within a AAA open-world game.”

It was followed by another job listing for a Combat Designer in January 2021, with the requirement stating, “Must have played Ghost of Tsushima and understand its core combat systems” You could say that both were for Ghost of Tsushima Legends or even the Iki Island expansion that arrived in August 2021 alongside the Director’s Cut. It’s a stretch, but we’ll go with it for now.

There’s still the odd reality that PlayStation Studios has announced no follow-up, much less hinted at one, for a multi-million-selling first-party title. However, it feels all the more strange for Ghost of Tsushima because it’s a new IP with tons of untapped potential.

It’s easy to forget how good the game is, especially after all these years. The tale of Jin Sakai, a samurai fighting to protect the island of Tsushima from a Mongol invasion, resonates strongly. Bested by a superior force that isn’t afraid to use dishonorable tactics, Jin drifts away from his samurai code, employing more stealth and assassination techniques to take down targets. It’s an internal conflict that bites at him, alongside the loss of his father during his childhood.

Of course, Jin is only one part of the narrative. There are several supporting characters, each with narrative quest chains adding much more flavor to the world and setting. Yuna, a thief who saved Jin’s life and seeks to leave Tsushima; Masako, the sole survivor of the Adachi clan on a quest for vengeance; Sadanobu Ishikawa, a famous archer who is not as honorable as he seems – the list goes on, and it’s a ride from start to finish.

Even if you ignore the incredible story and characters, Ghost of Tsushima is just a well-made, well-rounded open-world experience. The island of Tsushima offered several massive regions to explore, and while it featured a few cliches like enemy-occupied locations to liberate, the overall exploration is more organic. You could follow foxes and birds to discover points of interest. Liberating settlements would open up new side quests with their own unique stories. Rumors may also crop up during your journey, allowing you to pursue new armor sets and techniques.

Bamboo Strikes are a clever “Simon Says” style mini-game for increasing your max Resolve. Torii Gates led to unique platforming challenges for unlocking charms to specialize your build. You could even idle at a location and compose haikus, inscribing them on headbands that Jin can wear. There are even hot springs to increase your maximum health that also serve as a point of introspection for Jin’s past and present.

Every action throughout contributes to growing your legend, turning Jin from a renowned samurai lord to a fearsome entity that seemingly defies the confines of the real world. It all sounds so simple, yet the way it’s woven together is incredible.

On top of all this is the combat. There was some concern, especially after its E3 2018 showing. However, the use of Stances – with each being advantageous against different enemy types – and the seamless integration of Ghost Tools made for an addictive experience. Plus, you could call out enemies and face them head-on rather than sneaking around – the ultimate display of power. The duels are perhaps the biggest highlight, testing your fortitude and skills in dodging and parrying (or how quickly you can end the fight with your strongest Resolve techniques).

Sales aside, Ghost of Tsushima also had a good critical response with an 83 Metascore for the PS4 version and an 87 Metascore for the Director’s Cut on PS5. If nothing else, it’s also been a positive for other samurai-related titles. Like a Dragon: Ishin! developer affirmed that the game’s success gave the RGG Studio the confidence to bring its title to the United States after only being available in Japan for PS3 and PS4.

Sony hasn’t given any indication that a sequel is in the works. It’s focused on the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima live-action film, which isn’t a bad thing (especially since it’s directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame). With the publisher stating that it wouldn’t release any major games in existing PlayStation franchises before April 2025, there’s seemingly little hope in a sequel coming any time soon.

However, this is where the rumors come in. The same person who alleged that Ghost of Tsushima is coming to PC also claimed that the sequel would be announced at an upcoming PlayStation Showcase in May or June. It may have seemed farfetched, to begin with, but with the PC version confirmed, this rumor is looking all the more credible.

After all, what better way to drum up hype for a sequel than to introduce it to a whole new player base, never mind reminding fans why it’s so good in the first place? If announced this year, it’s all the more plausible that it could arrive in late Summer or early Fall of 2025.

Whatever the case, Sony must be well aware of how much of a breakout hit the first game is. With its live-service approach slowly being pared down, it probably knows the importance of single-player narrative titles more than ever. As the PS5 enters the latter half of its life cycle and rumors of a PS5 Pro run rampant, many titles will serve to showcase the console’s power. Here’s hoping that Ghost of Tsushima 2 is one of them.