With that being said, there’s always a lesson or two to be learned from adversity, and it’s always good to take a look at where things went wrong and how they can be improved. To that end, we’ve put together a list of events in the gaming world that garnered quite a response from the gaming community, and not in a good way. Let’s dive right in!

1. GTA 6 Delayed To November 2026

We’re sure you saw this one coming and thought it best to get it out of the way early. It’s always a bummer when a highly anticipated title faces a delay, and that becomes a lot worse to bear when that title has been a very long time in the making.

While we’re not going to hold a grudge against Rockstar for this one, as we suspect that the delay is only going to make the final game even better, it still rankles to know that there’s still such a long way to go before we get to dive into what we’re sure is a banger from the studio.

2. Microsoft’s Xbox Hardware Price Hikes

The Xbox hasn’t had a great run in the last few years, and Microsoft certainly didn’t help its case when it hiked the prices on Xbox consoles and a few games in May of last year. While we’re not going to get into the politics that are rumored to be behind the decision, it certainly wasn’t great news for Xbox fans in the market for a new console, with the flagship Series X’s prices going up by around 22% – a significant increase on a console whose popularity has been gradually eroding away.

However, Microsoft might not be entirely to blame for the situation; it was a choice that still didn’t sit well with many, never mind the fact that the PlayStation also saw its prices increase as a response.

3. Price Hikes On PlayStation Hardware In Some Regions

In Europe, the UK, and Australia, Sony hiked prices on the PS5 Digital Edition by around 10%, the reason given being economic turmoil around the world. It’s probably not as bad as the hike on Xbox consoles but is still quite an increase on an already pricey machine despite the excellence it brings to the table.
We’re just glad that the PS5 Pro remained unscathed through it all, and Sony probably deserves a bit of praise for managing to keep things under control for the most part.

4. Game Pass Price Increase

It wasn’t just consoles that saw unpopular price hikes, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate becoming dearer by quite a significant margin, prompting backlash from existing and potential subscribers. Despite Microsoft issuing a statement saying that such occurrences were “never fun for anybody”, it didn’t help with stopping a string of cancellations as frustrated gamers decided to speak up against the price hikes with their wallets.

We’re just glad we didn’t have to deal with the consequences of the decision, as things certainly got nasty.

5. Sony’s PS Plus Pricing Hike

Sony’s PS Plus wasn’t safe from global economic conditions either, and the service saw price hikes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Once again, Sony must be commended for restricting the fallout of turbulence in global supply chains, but the price hikes were still quite unpopular among gamers.

It’s interesting to see how Sony managed to keep things in control in comparison with Microsoft, but the price hikes did raise concerns about the value of gaming on consoles versus the same costs on a PC. That’s an interesting facet of this equation that does merit close observation over the next couple of years, and the Steam Machine’s debut might be quite a twist in this tale.

6. AI In Video Games

Generative AI made things quite complicated for a few studios in 2025, with many players and critics calling out its use in video games as a step in the wrong direction. A great example would be ARC Raiders, where lines of NPC dialogue being handled by AI received quite a bit of backlash and review bombing on what was an otherwise solid game. And we suppose there’s no need to mention the controversy surrounding The Alters, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Fortnite.

7. Call of Duty Black Ops 7

While disappointment with the annual Call of Duty franchise has become something of a recurring tradition, it wasn’t really surprising to see Black Ops 7 fall as flatly as it did. The story, gameplay, and overall presentation failed to gain the momentum needed to stop the franchise’s slump, and the game has been among our worst shooters of 2025 thanks to the likes of ARC Raiders.

Some might be holding out hope that the franchise can turn things around with subsequent instalments though, but that’s looking pretty unlikely now.

8. Mario Kart World’s Hefty Price Tag

Mario Kart World was certainly incredible, and a great title to show off what the Switch 2 could do. But its pricing left a bitter taste in the mouth of those who bought it, and perhaps even put off some players who might have otherwise chosen to dive in.

While an $80 price tag on an excellent game might be palatable to people who want quality, it did raise concerns about a new pricing standard that could isolate quite a few gamers whose budgets might not allow them to pick up great games consistently.

9. Industry Wide Layoffs

There’s a long list of studios that have been shut down, and teams that have faced layoffs over a variety of factors. Studios like Monolith, whose Nemesis System is now probably locked away in a vault somewhere, are great examples of talented teams who were unfortunately let go thanks to a variety of factors.

2025 also saw layoffs across Electronic Arts, Supermassive Games, People Can Fly, Amazon Games, and several others, with thousands of developers ultimately losing their jobs. Here’s hoping that all of the talented folks who were affected it managed to land on their feet.

10. MindsEye

Boy, was this one an annoyance. We went into MindsEye expecting great things from Build A Rocket Boy but were left with a bitter taste in our mouth after its lifeless world, lackluster story, and uninspired combat. This was a game that should have been so much more, and was perhaps the most egregious fail that 2025 brought to the gaming world.

The studio’s response to the criticism aimed at their debut title was also quite lacking, showcasing a poor attitude that did it no favors, and perhaps can act as a lesson to other studios whose offerings fail to get off the ground at the outset.

11. Monster Hunter Wilds PC

This one’s another instance of a disappointing end to a very long wait. With Worlds being as good as it was, Wilds should have been a sequel that took the popular franchise from the developer to new heights. And while the game did manage to put up a good show on consoles, its PC performance left players quite irate with the studio thanks to its poor optimization.

Frame rate issues, poor VRAM optimization, crashes, stutters, and so many more problems ruined what should have been an incredible time hunting monsters in visually stunning environments. This one’s a classic example of a game that should have been more popular right off the bat but was let down thanks to its problems. We’re happy it managed to get back on track though, somewhat.

12. Where Winds Meet’s UI Issues

If you’ve been with us for a while, you already know that Where Winds Meet has been quite a surprise for all of us who got to play it. However, its UI is one area that could certainly use some polish. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s so confusing it runs the risk of making its players miss important parts of its gameplay loop, and needs to do better and communicate all of the myriad systems it contains.

This isn’t a game-breaking problem but it does need to be addressed nonetheless considering the amazing quality of everything else on offer in the experience.

13. Valorant’s Text Verification

Valorant might be among the best esports shooters out there, but that might have worked against the game in this particular instance. With Riot Games aiming to minimize cheating within the game and requiring users to use multi-factor-authentication to be able to play the game, it was obvious that there was going to be a bit of backlash.

With accounts being tied to specific mobile numbers and stringent checks against shady practices, players with multiple accounts who actually played the game without resorting to malpractices were forced to adhere to the new rules. Although necessary, it could still be seen as uncomfortable. We’re all human, after all.

14. Lacking Features At Launch

Several titles released with content that wasn’t available at launch, causing dissatisfaction among players thanks to how crucial they were to their overall enjoyment of the game in question. Borderlands 4’s excellent visuals might have tempted many of its players to take a break and grab some awesome shots of its world, but the lack of a Photo Mode at launch made that an area of frustration.

Ghost of Yotei should have had a New Game+ mode from the very start but that wasn’t the case. Its distinct lack of enemies out in its open world after you finished its story should have been a reason to have the option to get right back into the action but at least it’s there now for those who want it. Several other titles had notable omissions that had us scratching our heads at why they weren’t in the game in the first place.

15. Cancelled Projects

Sony pulled the plug on Bend Studio and Bluepoint Studio’s live-service projects in its pivot towards more profitable (and probably safer) ventures, while Microsoft also cancelled Everwild and Perfect Dark, both of which seemed like solid additions to their respective lineups of titles.

It’s always disappointing to see games with potential be denied the chance to show what they have but it is what it is.

And that’s a wrap on some of 2025’s failures that had gamers shaking their heads at dismal decisions and poor execution of great ideas. Here’s to hoping that 2026 manages to make lists like these a lot shorter!

And that’s just on the game’s normal difficulty. Tune things up to Hard or Lethal and you’re in for a challenge that can have you rage-quitting more often than you’d like. Saito’s forces are quite nasty and give no quarter to Atsu, leaving her scrambling to turn the tide back in her favor after an ill-timed parry or a missed dodge.

But is Sucker Punch’s latest samurai action blockbuster really so different from Jin Sakai’s battles against the Mongols? Well, I’d say yes and no. No, because everything that made Ghost of Tsushima’s combat system shine bright is certainly a part of the new title. Yes, because all of those systems are now fine-tuned so well, making Yotei’s combat feel like less of an overhaul and more like a logical evolution of what came before it.

How, you ask? I’d say that it comes down to three basic pillars: the combat system’s narrative framing, mechanical changes to how fights play out, and a drastically different enemy AI this time around. Let’s get started with how they’ve taken things up a notch in the franchise’s latest outing.

Giving Context to Combat

A key strength of the Ghost franchise is its ability to justify in-game mechanics with narrative beats that support the action that unfolds on your screen. That was done very well in Ghost of Tsushima, where Jin wielded the Sakai katana and tanto with the brutal efficiency that comes with years of training as a samurai. While he did gain access to bows and his Ghost tools later down the line, his family’s blade was his primary tool for dealing with the Mongol threat.

That made sense for the samurai, whose main goal was to attempt to preserve his family’s legacy and traditions while also being an effective living weapon pointed at the Mongol army and Khotun Khan. That balancing act was a major part of Jin’s character arc, and the Sakai blade was the tightrope on which he walked.

Unlocking stances to deal with varied enemy types in accordance with the samurai code’s tenets of being one with the world around them was a part of that balance, as was the honor-bound tradition of respecting life even when taking it away from those who left him with no alternatives.

Honor, and the gradual erosion of it were the core tenets of Ghost of Tsushima, and its combat system played a major role in conveying that theme to its audiences. However, Jin’s reliance on the Sakai blades did limit his range, forcing him to try getting up close and personal with his opponents in open combat. While that worked for him, Ghost of Yotei’s story does things a little differently.

Atsu has not had the luxury of being trained by samurai and is perhaps better off for it. Her combat prowess comes from many years on the battlefield as a mercenary, learning on the job and becoming quite good at fighting in large scale battles. Her innate ability to quickly learn the ins and outs of wielding a new weapon is a part of her character arc, allowing her to gain mastery over four new weapon types that replace Jin’s stances.

Despite her compassionate side coming through on many occasions, the battlefield is the one place where Atsu is utterly ruthless, and she has to be. That’s partly because Lord Saito is similarly merciless, and a master of the art of killing. Another reason is the fact that she actively cultivates her reputation as an Onryo, a departure from Jin’s reluctant acceptance of the mantle of the Ghost.

These narrative beats translate to a combat loop that sets Yotei’s protagonist free from the limitations of the samurai code, resulting in a combat loop that’s more versatile. Atsu’s katana, dual blades, kusarigama, odachi, and yari are all potent tools in the field, each coming with its own pros and cons that make Yotei’s combat feel liberating and dynamic, underlining the smoldering rage she feels for the Yotei Six.

While both titles have effectively woven narrative threads into their combat systems, Atsu’s role as a mercenary in Ghost of Yotei allows the game to bring logical, incremental improvements that make drastic differences to the manner in which fights play out in the game.

A Mechanical Marvel

The most obvious difference that I noticed when I began to find my footing in Ghost of Yotei was the stance system being replaced with different weapons. For starters, their varying range makes each one quite handy in different situations. The kusarigama is a perfect crowd control tool while the odachi could be quite effective even against non-Brute enemies once you figure out its moveset. If I were to drop a pro tip, I’d advise you not to switch weapons simply based on stagger damage but to act on instinct and choose the best one for what you’re trying to achieve in the moment.

A more subtle change that sets Yotei’s combat apart from Tsushima is the way in which you’re going to adjust your attack timings on the fly as you switch between different weapons. The Sakai katana attacked in largely the same rhythm, with only minor variations between stances. But each of Atsu’s killing tools has a unique moveset and gets you very involved in each swing as even the slightest error can take control of the fight away from you.

That’s because your enemies come with tricks of their own, the ability to disarm you being a very important one. I cannot imagine Jin losing his sword in Tsushima but I found my time with Atsu being dotted with occasions where I’d fail to appropriately respond to a disarming strike and then scramble to regain my dropped weapon. Inflicting disarming strikes of my own and then flinging my foe’s weapon into them was another brilliant addition that I quickly weaved into my battle strategy. They are creative flourishes that I believe should have been in Tsushima too but it is what it is.

Another important aspect of Yotei’s combat is that Lord Saito has seemingly invested in better training for his soldiers than Khotun Khan ever did. While consecutive strikes were relegated to boss battles in Tsushima for the most part (looking at you, Kojiro), I was (un)pleasantly surprised to see even basic enemy soldiers coming at me with multiple slashes and stabs that I had to parry individually. Regular troops often switched weapons on the fly, adding even more depth and nuance to an already excellent combat system.

Add in different special attacks for different weapons and the possibility of your wolf buddy joining the fight from time to time, and you have a recipe for a combat system that’s constantly working both for and against you depending on how well you’re able to adapt to the action and stay two steps ahead of your opponents. The Onryo Howl is an important part of this combat loop, and is quite devastating when used correctly.

All of these additions create a combat loop that almost feels alive in Ghost of Yotei, a stark contrast to the challenging yet comparatively static one on display in Tsushima. Once again, Sucker Punch hasn’t reinvented the wheel, but made iterative improvements that add up to create an experience that renders its predecessor obsolete.

Which brings us to the final facet of this evolution: the enemies themselves.

A Stronger and Smarter Rogues Gallery

Aside from my foes switching up weapons and chaining combos together in their attacks, the enemy AI in Ghost of Yotei makes the Mongols feel too easy waving their weapons around and hoping to catch me off guard. Saito’s men are vicious and unrelenting, adapting their tactics in response to my own strategies while finding very creative ways to initiate encounters with Atsu via traps and ambushes. I constantly found I had my eyes peeled as I tore across Ezo, wary of enemies looking to trip up my horse or stage a well-planned attack that could have me on the back foot right from the start.

They flank Atsu quite cleverly, often coming at her from all directions and with different weapons, forcing me to abandon one strategy for another in ways that the Mongols could never force me to do back in 2020. They felt unresponsive even on higher difficulties and I’d even go as far as to say that they were quite a sloppy bunch in comparison to Saito’s outlaws. Their arsenals were limited and their attacks now feel so simple and repetitive thanks to Atsu’s desperately pitched battles against opponents who are willing to be as dynamic as she can be in the field.

You might even find yourself making regular use of the Loadout system depending on which member of the Yotei Six you’re hunting. I found myself relying heavily on the yari when taking on The Kitsune’s shinobi and their preference for the kusarigama, for instance. Yotei’s enemy AI is the final pillar of how its combat system has taken the basic skeleton of its predecessor and added enough muscle to it to make it feel familiar yet fresh.

I’d say that Jin would have a thing or two to learn from Atsu if the two protagonists could have met. Her aggression and dynamic approach is something he’d find easy to understand but hard to master thanks to his rigid samurai training.

As far as combat is concerned, the Ghost has gracefully made way for the Onryo to take the center stage in one of the franchise’s most crucial aspects.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

It’s easy to see how Sucker Punch retained the best of Tsushima and built around it to refine the experience it was offering in the franchise’s first current-gen title. But can that strategy work if it decides to bring a new addition to its ranks? What could a new Ghost title bring to the table to set itself apart from both Jin and Atsu?

That’s what we’re here to discuss as we dive into what the future could hold for the studio’s excellent brand of samurai action, and the potential time periods it could take on.

An Interesting New Direction

First of all, it’s important to remember that Sucker Punch is not keen on the idea of using a location other than Japan, a sentiment made known by the Brian Fleming, the studio’s head. According to him, the Ghost franchise relies on “somebody wielding a katana” and “Japan’s natural beauty”. While the possibility of seeing a Ghost title centered around other locations around the world would have been quite thrilling, Japan still has a lot to give to the franchise’s fans.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about Yotei’s Atsu. While her story does reach a sort of peaceful conclusion at the end of the game, we can’t help but wonder about the many years she spent away from Ezo as a wandering mercenary. It would be a great idea to explore that time frame, and look into how she was moulded from a frightened girl into the fearsome Onryo. However, like the Iki Island expansion that explored Jin Sakai’s memories of his father, that could very well be done in a DLC expansion.

So what then, could a new Ghost game bring to the table? Well, we’ve got a few ideas. For starters, we think that it could go back to its samurai roots but not in the way that you’d expect. Considering how the samurai have been perceived by the common folk in both Tsushima and Yotei, it could be a good idea to make them the focus of the next Ghost’s ire.

Take Yariwaka, for instance. Kasumasa Sakai and Shimura’s brutality in stamping out that region’s rebellion was a major talking point in Tsushima. So much so that Jin would have to earn the trust of its leaders who were happy to see the samurai being placed on the back foot by the Mongols. Its people saw the samurai as villains, an extension of an oppressive Shogun regime that did not care about them.

Things are the same in Ezo, where a large part of its population have travelled to the region to escape the Shogun’s oppression, and as such, look at the Matsumae clan with either suspicion, or disdain. While both Tsushima and Ezo have their fair share of people who do admire what the samurai stand for, a new Ghost title could be a very interesting take on what could happen if the samurai themselves are the enemy.

The sequel could then have its protagonist going against either his own clan or the Shogun himself, their goal being to fight against corruption and oppression. There are several time periods in Japanese history that would be excellent choices for such a tale, and would fit very well with the franchise’s penchant for exploring complex philosophies governing individual identity and the role of each person in the world that they live in.

Let’s take a look at a few.

A Plethora of Options

For starters, the Sengoku period is an obvious choice. There was a lot of anti-Shogun sentiment around the time, and the era is in fact a precursor to the story on display in Yotei. The Onin War and its eventual progression into the Sengoku period could see a new Ghost wage their crusade in a more urban setting. It would allow Sucker Punch to improve verticality in the franchise’s gameplay loop, potentially bringing changes to the grappling hook while adding several interesting twists to both exploration and combat.

With intense political struggles between rival clans, a Ghost title in this time period could allow its protagonist to pit clans against each other in order to achieve their own goals. It’s an opportunity to introduce a bit of psychological warfare into the mix while activities like night raids, duels with displaced ronin, and so much more bring a new yet familiar title to the franchise’s illustrious ranks.

There’s also the option of having the new Ghost take to piracy. The Wokou were Japanese pirates but did have people from other Asian ethnicities among their ranks. It would be the perfect opportunity to examine varying ideologies while introducing naval combat to the franchise.

A pirate Ghost could be a great option, coming with a ton of new weapons and tactics while also bringing the opportunity to examine how poverty and the apathy of leaders could lead people to take desperate measures. We could very well see the new Ghost using rope darts, navigating the seas through varying tides, boarding ships silently, and so much more.

Thanks to Yotei, we’ve been introduced to the Ainu, an indigenous group native to Ezo (or Hokkaido as it’s now known). Their resistance to Japanese colonization could be another great idea for a new Ghost title given their relatively peaceful culture. An Ainu Ghost might be torn between their roots and their mission to prevent the erasure of their people, resorting to drastic measures to achieve their ends that risk them being alienated from the ones they hold dear.

That would be quite a narrative goldmine that aligns with the stories that we’ve seen so far but could also be a valuable way to introduce some truly innovative gameplay mechanics into the mix. There could be stealth sections using boats in rivers, the opportunity to bring in social stealth, a weather system that changes how the game is played during winter, mythic tales based on Ainu folklore, hunting, and so much more. It’s an opportunity to tell a deeply personal story with a protagonist who might be the most charming Ghost we’ve met so far.

Another option, and probably our favorite one, is the Boshin War and the political strife that followed it. That’s an interesting point in Japanese history where the nation’s isolationism and the opening of its borders led to a lot of turmoil in its political hierarchies, leading to a lot of conflict that’s the perfect stage for the rise of a new Ghost.

It could be an excellent way to introduce new weapons into the character’s arsenal while also retaining the combat system that has made the franchise as popular as it currently is. It’s also perfect from a narrative standpoint, with the debate surrounding ideologies and the influence of other nations on Japan being great places to stage a story about where a samurai’s loyalty must truly lie. Gameplay wise, it could feature large scale battles and desperate last stands, the likes of which the franchise has not brought to the table thus far.

If Sucker Punch continues to craft its experiences in the manner that it is, this era in Japanese history could be a great option for the studio to tell us a tale that we’re not likely to forget.

The Path Ahead

No matter what lies ahead for the franchise, I would argue that Sucker Punch needs to do things a little differently this time around. Despite Yotei being among my favorite open world experience and my personal pick among PlayStation exclusives, the fact remains that it is only an iterative upgrade over Jin Sakai’s adventure in Tsushima.

The next title cannot afford to ride on the goodwill of the games that came before it, and must be a game that doesn’t just build on its predecessors, but outshines them entirely. It can be quite hard to achieve that balance but considering just how well the studio has managed to bring reverence and authenticity to its take on ancient Japan, the third time could very well be the charm in its case.

The next Ghost carries the weight of living up to their predecessors while ushering the franchise into its future. But with Sucker Punch’s penchant for creating hard-hitting stories and excellent gameplay mechanics, we’re sure that the Ghost, and the franchise, is going to come out swinging.

All that remains is to wait for the eventual announcement of the next instalment in a franchise that has now firmly cemented its place among the best that the open world action-adventure genre has to offer.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Ghost of Yotei is finally here, and it has all the markings of a great sequel; everything that worked in the original has been amped up alongside new additions. You can check out more about the game in our review, but with this feature, we will be focusing on the technical aspects of Ghost of Yotei – what has changed, how it compares to the original, and so much more. With that being said, let’s begin!

Graphics Overview – How Has It Changed In Comparison To Tsushima?

Ghost of Tsushima was built using Sucker Punch’s proprietary game engine, and while it might not have been the technically strongest game from the PS4’s comprehensive first-party library, it was definitely a looker in each department. Strong art direction, solid textures, and a knack for detail ensured that Tsushima looks consistently gorgeous without relying on any extreme rendering techniques.

Ghost of Yotei doesn’t rewrite the playbook in any significant way, but what it does is refine the technical aspects of Tsushima to a higher degree, resulting in a game that looks solid through and through. Yotei makes good use of current-gen rendering techniques such as ray-tracing,  and the increase in CPU and GPU compute have enabled the team to make some key improvements in several aspects of the presentation.

By and large, the upgrades that we are seeing in Ghost of Yotei are of the iterative kind; ones that build off of what came before. Be it the improvements in the environments, better facial expressions across the board, brand new weather effects coupled with weather effects, or animations – Ghost of Yotei takes what worked in the original and builds a vast net of new ideas around that makes these additions feel fit in the grand scheme of things.

Character Models 

Talking about the character models first, Ghost of Yotei flaunts character models that are comparable in fidelity to most current-gen games. The polycounts on these models are quite high, making them look striking when put against proper lighting. The clothes they wear are made of high-quality, physically based materials that sway to the tune of the wind.

One of the biggest key improvements that we noticed in Yotei has to the upgrade in motion capture. The upgraded tech allows more minute expressions to be caught and displayed in a way that feels realistic, and Sucker Punch had already hinted at this in the trailers – and it looks really great in action. 

Environment 

Ghost of Tsushima absolutely blew it out of the park when it came to its environments. It was the highlight of the experience in Tsushima, and it stands true in the case of Yotei as well. Sucker Punch transports you to a world that feels like poetry in motion – an artistically apt representation of the Ezo period of Japan. 

Rolling hills, large flower fields, bustling villages, active volcanoes, and rivers all flow into one another in a way that feels quite natural – giving the world a distinct sense of authenticity. Textures can have some artifacting along the edges, but they do look reasonably sharp for the most part. Yotei uses a lighter colour palette than Tsushima, but it helps set the right mood and contributes to achieving the desired look. 

Environments have a lot of visual density with trees, blades of grass, and flowers growing in abundance throughout – and much like Tsushima, they accurately sway to the tune of the winds. Trees and stones have appropriate geometric complexity, and much like the clothes of these characters, the material of these environmental assets reacts appropriately to light and reflection. Coarse materials like iron or stone wouldn’t obviously reflect much light, but other materials, such as the side of a katana or a pool of water, would accurately reflect it. 

Terrain deformations are also a highlight, and walking over mud or snow leaves dynamically generated trails behind the player. These deformations are highly detailed, and can bundle over one another in certain scenarios without glitching out. It seems that Sucker Punch might have taken a page out of Decima Engine in this regard, and it can be quite a looker in action. 

Yotei also has many different renderings of water spread throughout its huge open world. You can find clear rolling water flowing through streams, semi-solid ice in frigid areas, soft snow atop mountains and much more. Reflection properties and material quality appropriately differ based on the state of water, and while there are no dynamic melting mechanisms in place – the overall rendering is pretty stunning.

We should also talk about how the world streaming works in Yotei, and this is where Sucker Punch makes great use of the PS5’s expanded CPU and GPU horsepower. Draw distances are significantly higher, and the level of detail doesn’t drop by a huge margin for assets that are further away from the camera. The level of detail swapping also happens in a smooth fashion, and load pop-in and other artifacts are minimal. 

Lighting and Reflections

And that brings us neatly over to the lighting side of things, where we get to see a ray-tracing based lighting solution, which is a vast improvement over the probe-based solution that we saw in Ghost of Tsushima. Nailing the look and feel of the world of Yotei is heavily dependent on bounce lighting and indirect lighting, so a rather simple GI implementation wouldn’t work as well as this ray-traced solution. Of course, it helps that the PS5 has hardware-accelerated ray-tracing – and performance doesn’t heavily tank as a result.

The reflections are of consistently high quality, andthe  lighting data is reasonably accurate, giving the world a rather realistic look at times. Ghost of Yotei also has dynamic day and night cycles and the possibility of weather hazards, and going the RT route makes these transitions feel quite natural and dynamic in nature.

The same RT implementation continues over to the shadow maps, where we get to see some really accurate shadows cast from a combination of direct and indirect light sources. Shadow maps are detailed and cast at a large scale from the camera, giving the world a rather uniform look around. Artifacts in shadows are largely absent, thanks to the higher processing power of the PS5. 

Animations 

As a natural extension of the advancements in motion capture, Ghost of Yotei also makes a few improvements to the animation department. The swordfighting and action are inspired by the works of Kurosawa, and it’s a mixture of Samurai Bujustu and artificially induced flair. Animations nicely blend into one another during combat, and enemy ragdolls also properly react to strikes from the player. The new stances also bring new moves and animations into the mix, enlarging the pool of available actions at your disposal. 

Animations and interactions aren’t just limited to the combat; you can also find some really cool interactions spread throughout the game. Right from how the horse moves through different terrain to snow piling up on top of trees and eventually shedding under the crumbling weight and the micro-expressions that indicate biting cold, Ghost of Yotei is filled with neat little animations that make the world feel interactive and surreal.

Particle Effects And Other Post-Processing 

Ghost of Yotei’s visual presentation is also pretty strong on the post-processing side of things, and Sucker Punch has established itself as one of the best when it comes to particle effects. Be it the power effects of Infamous or the sparks in Tsushima, Sucker Punch always has some great particle effects on show – and that stands true in the case of Yotei as well. We get to see some high-quality alpha particles during fights and explosions, and all of that is paired really well with other effects, such as a per-object motion blur that helps elevate the visual presentation to another level. 

Volumetric fog is also generously used across Yotei, be it smoke volumes that indicate points of interest or smoke bombs that feature great light diffusion or even distant fog that serves to sell the sense of scale. Smoke volumes can be dense or light depending on the requirement, and these techniques are also used in conjunction to depict environmental hazards such as typhoons and blizzards or clouds in the sky sandbox. 

Lastly, the presentation is capped off with what looks to be PSSR (PlayStation Super Resolution), which helps in smoothening off jagged edges and hides away any visible artifacts without risking a hit on the performance side of things.

Conclusion

Ghost of Yotei’s presentation is an iterative upgrade over Tsushima, and while Sucker Punch hasn’t  aggressively pushed the envelope of rendering in any department – it doesn’t mean that this isn’t a good-looking game. The beauty of this game lies in the strong art direction, the biodiversity on offer, and the striking attention to detail – and it will undoubtedly go down as a worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima and also one of the best-looking games of this year. 

With a new map to explore, and a lot to do it in it as we step into the shoes of Atsu, a woman who has nothing to lose and everything to gain from her quest for revenge against those who uprooted her relatively peaceful past, Ghost of Yotei seems all set to build on everything good about the franchise’s maiden voyage.

We thought it would be a good idea to take a look at how Sucker Punch plans to do things differently this time around. To that end, here are fifteen differences between the two titles that are primed to make Ghost of Yotei feel like a whole new adventure this time around.

Note: All of the information in this feature is based on official sources.

15. A More Dynamic Open World

The lands of Ezo are quite dangerous for people who cannot handle the threats they present. Fortunately, Atsu doesn’t count among them and is all set to build her legend among its folk in more ways than one.

Sucker Punch has been quite enthusiastic about its efforts to make exploring its new map more organic and rewarding for those among us who just like to hop onto our house and ride on to whatever catches our eye. Beautiful fields, flowery paths that give Atsu a speed boost, and a whole lot of things to do as she blazes a path to revenge are slated to make Yotei a current-gen open world that could shake things up from the genre’s tried and tested traditions.

And while the map is going to be similar in size to Tsushima, its scope is looking far more ambitious.

14. A New Way to Track Important Quests

Like Jin, Atsu is going to meet a few interesting folks on her path to bringing an end to the Yotei Six. Unlike Jin, she gets a very cool way to keep track of them via the new clue card system. Making excellent use of the game’s unique art style, this is an addition that we’re eager to see for ourselves as we dive into the adventure.

That’s because while the journal system from the original game was quite effective at fulfilling its purpose, Sucker Punch’s new way of tracking important quests and information looks and feels a lot more immersive, a reflection of the time period the game is set in, and a very unique visual reminder of the people who matter in Atsu’s tale.

13. An Innovative Approach to Discovery

Ghost of Tsushima had a lot of interesting folks who formed the bulk of its supporting cast, as well as many troubled inhabitants of Tsushima who needed Jin’s help. What did they all have in common? Jin had to go to them to learn more about their needs, or perhaps even trade with them or upgrade his gear. It was in line with a more traditional approach to open-world titles, but that was five years ago.

We’re truly in a new age of gaming experiences, and Ghost of Yotei is taking a very inspired approach to its side content. Atsu can camp in the open world, relaxing for a moment by playing her shamisen, which we’ll get to in a minute. But that’s not all that happens in your camp. You could very well have one of the open world’s denizens find you and share your fire, providing you with useful information and perhaps even pointing you in the direction of your next quest.

It’s a refreshing approach to discovering new content, and it is probably going to save Yotei’s players a lot of time, which they can now spend achieving their objectives instead of seeking them out.

12. New Mission Types

There’s going to be a lot of new ways to engage with the lands of Ezo, and Atsu’s journey is set to put some very dangerous individuals in her path, the Yotei Six notwithstanding. If you’re looking to grow her legend and perhaps earn a bit of cash for those weapon and gear upgrades while doing so, bounty hunts are now a part of the franchise’s excellent gameplay loop.

For those of you who like to let their weapons do the talking, these missions are a major new addition that cement Atsu’s role as a mercenary instead of an honorable samurai like Jin.

11. A New Forecast For A New Land

One of our favorite parts of Ghost of Tsushima was the fact that the weather changed the more we leaned into Jin’s transformation into the Ghost. Going from bright and sunny to dark and gloomy, with thunderclouds making their presence felt, the more Jin left his honorable roots as a samurai behind, the island of Tsushima seemed to mourn the loss of one of its sons and reflect the dark path he had chosen.

However, Ezo isn’t Tsushima. And with a lot of varied biomes populating its vast expanses, it could prove to be very different from Tsushima, and perhaps even add more variety to the weather as a result.

While it remains to be seen if we’re going to witness changing seasons like in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it would be fair to expect a more dynamic weather pattern in play as we dive deep into Ezo’s many mysteries and perhaps even have them influence the gameplay loop on offer in Ghost of Yotei.

10. Hunting The New Antagonists

Khotun Khan didn’t bother concealing his presence in Ghost of Tsushima. Jin knew where he was for most of the story, simply lacking the means to take him head-on until he rallied the disparate forces of Tsushima behind the banner of the Ghost before repelling the cunning Mongol leader.

The Yotei Six are far more insidious, weaving themselves into the very fabric of Ezo and running things from the relative safety of metaphorical shadows. Atsu is going to have to make the most of Ezo’s new exploration mechanics and all of Sucker Punch’s best changes in her quest for revenge, and hunt down each of these terrifying threats by fostering a connection with the land and its people.

9. The Price of Revenge

It wouldn’t be a Ghost title if it didn’t have complex themes to tackle. While details remain scarce about the price Atsu will have to pay for her revenge, we’re certain that her tale is going to be just as poignant as Jin’s.

While Ghost of Tsushima saw Jin gradually replace his notions of honor and tradition in the face of the Mongol’s tactics, Atsu has already left her old identity behind, forging a new one to extract a very steep price from the ones who made that a necessity.

Perhaps she learned of Jin’s legend, passed down over the three centuries between their lives? Either way, her narrative conflicts are going to be something to look out for as she embarks on her hunt.

8. Past Participation

While the flashbacks to Jin’s past were a very crucial part of Jin’s character arc in Ghost of Tsushima, they often came at moments that interrupted important moments in the present. Sucker Punch seems to have taken note of that oddity and has introduced a clever new way for its players to witness Atsu’s own tragic origins.

In what we see as a very immersive twist, players can now flit between her past and present at key areas in the game, witnessing more of the life she left behind courtesy of the Yotei Six, and perhaps gaining insight into her motivations as a character. It’s a very cool wrinkle to the franchise’s formula, and could potentially be a great way to introduce a bit of exposition in the game’s narrative.

7. A New, More Willing Ghost

Jin’s reluctant transformation from honorable samurai to the ruthless Ghost was a key part of the original game’s emotional heft. However, as a mercenary hell-bent on revenge, Atsu’s willingness to do what’s necessary is going to set her apart as a protagonist. Sucker Punch’s enthusiasm about her taking on the role of a demon, or Onryo, is sure to shine through in the narrative.

How much is going to remain of Atsu once she has her revenge against the Yotei Six? How far will the Onryo be willing to go in her quest to end their tyranny? Like you, we can’t wait to find out!

6. Different Warriors, Different Minds

While Jin composed haiku and played his flute as a somber way to prepare his mind for battle, Atsu takes a similar yet different approach to a similar goal.

In tune with the franchise’s emphasis on nature, Atsu undertakes the art of Sumi-e as a way to unwind, a parallel to Assassin’s Creed Shadows that is sure to draw a few comparisons.

She replaces the flute with a Shamisen that’s set to be more than just a musical instrument – it’s a way for players to tell the game where they wish to go next! Unlocking different songs to play lets you tailor exploration based on your needs. That’s a cool way to make your music work for you if there ever was one.

5. Revamped Combat

Jin’s ability to switch stances on the fly, thanks to his years of training with the Sakai family’s katana, makes way for Atsu’s expertise with a variety of weapons, thanks to her role as a mercenary.

You know switch weapons as you take on varying opponents, with each moveset being more suitable to counter the particular attacks of an enemy’s weapon type. But Sucker Punch hasn’t been content with its inventive switch-up, and added the possibility of Atsu losing her weapon in the heat of battle.

You could find yourself forced to take on another enemy who wields the weapon you need and disarm them in order to deal with the one who did the same to you. It’s a change that could make each fight quite unpredictable in Yotei, and is a very welcome one for that very reason.

4. Firearms

Considering that Ghost of Yotei takes place around 300 years after the events in the previous game, it makes sense that firearms are now a part of commonly used weaponry. And Atsu certainly knows how to handle a gun!

A trailer showcasing her proficiency with firearms indicates that gunplay could very well be a viable path to victory for those of you with steady trigger fingers. We just hope that it makes good use of the DualSense 5’s advanced haptics to make the experience feel all the more authentic as a result.

3. Part of a Pack

While Jin primarily fought alone unless he was aided by another of Tsushima’s residents, Atsu seems more in touch with nature, even managing to get a wolf to fight at her side. While Sucker Punch has been cagey about what her new companion is capable of, the gameplay showcase for Ghost of Yotei did have her wolf buddy taking a bite out of a few unfortunate opponents who were foolhardy enough to take the duo on.

For our part, we’re hoping for a few skills that let our loyal companion have a more active role in the fighting that’s coming our way.

2. Choose Your Legendary Director

Akira Kurosawa’s influence on the first game is nearly as legendary as the director himself. But Ghost of Yotei is poised to bring in the cinematic talent of other notable names in the samurai film genre.

Two additional modes that reflect the techniques of Takashi Miike and Shinichiro Watanabe are going to make an appearance in the new title. Those standoffs are going to get a whole lot flashier.

1. A New Perspective

There was a bit of resistance to Atsu taking over the reins from Jin when Ghost of Yotei was first revealed to the world. Considering the time period that the game is set in, Atsu’s place in society is arguably one in which she is placed among the outcasts of a feudal setup that did not value a woman of her stature, considering all the losses she faces before she decides to do something about it. That’s a narrative wrinkle that could be the greatest part of her adventure, placing her in stark contrast to Jin.

As an honorable samurai and the nephew of Tsushima’s Jito, Jin’s encounters with the denizens of his home were underlined with a sense of respect and trust. Ezo may do Atsu no such favors, requiring that she earn the trust, and perhaps fearful respect, of those she encounters. The gameplay showcase touched upon thi,s but perhaps Sucker Punch is saving the biggest ace up its sleeve for when the game releases.

And that wraps up our list of the biggest changes from Ghost of Tsushima to Ghost of Yotei. We’d love to hear what you’re most excited about, and perhaps even find some new perspectives from you! Just let us know in the comments, and join us as we wait with bated breath for a title that’s going to test our skills and tug at our heartstrings.

However, there are a few games this year that can test even the most determined players with their immense size and scope, and more than a few on the way. To that end, in no particular order, here are a few long adventures that can chew up many hours of your time while keeping you well entertained in the process.

1. Ghost of Yotei

Slated for an October 2025 release, this follow up to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima is primed to recapture the magic of its predecessor while taking the franchise to the next level all at once. This PS5 exclusive action adventure title follows new protagonist Atsu as she hunts down the Yotei Six, who were responsible for killing her family and leaving her for dead.

She does so by relying on her exceptional swordplay and stealth skills, along with the ability to wield multiple weapons in combat. Yotei brings a lot to do within its boundaries, with sumi-e paintings, training with bamboo shoots, bounty hunts, and so much more and is likely to take you around 60 hours to fully experience everything it has to offer.

2. Pokemon Legends: Z-A

This action RPG for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is sure to keep you coming back for more, bringing the best of the beloved IP to the table. Set in and around Lumiose City in the Kalos region, where Pokemon are able to coexist with humans in designated Wild Zones, the game is stated to bring real-time battles via a new combat system and a host of other activities for you to take on as you craft your legend from the ground up.

With a new story and side missions also being featured in the game, this is a title that Pokemon fans will be waiting to dive into when it launches in October 2025. While little is known about the story’s runtime, this is a game that is sure to have many players returning to Lumiose City long after they have completed it, if past titles are any indication.

3. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Hideo Kojima’s latest release is one that can quickly enthrall you with its breathtaking views of Mexico and Australia, with Sam Porter embarking on a new quest to bring the Chiral Network back online in these new areas. That’s not the only thing occupying his time, however, with BTs to take down, new faces to meet, and a host of other activities that he can take up during his travels.

That’s not all! Kojima has made life after On the Beach’s explosive main story quite encouraging to take on, and there are a lot of things to do after you roll the credits on Sam’s latest adventure. That could very well take you more than a 100 hours to get through it all, making this one a no-brainer if you’re looking for a massive game to take on!

4. The Outer Worlds 2

The upcoming action RPG sequel to the original Outer Worlds takes its players to a new solar system in which they are tasked with investigating rifts in the sapce-time continuum for the Earth Directorate. With an increased focus on action and a visual overhaul to better service it, this October 2025 release is certainly one to watch out for.

While the original game took about 40 hours to experience in its entirety, Outer Worlds 2 could very well raise the bar with its branching story paths that stem from its returning dialogue tree system. Combined with its new world, this is a title that comes with a lot of replay value for those who want to experience everything it has to offer.

5. Monster Hunter Wilds

Although this action-RPG is best enjoyed with a team of your friends, it’s more than possible to get through the sprawling adventure it presents on your own. That’s easier said than done, however, with the Forbidden Lands presenting you with a plethora of monsters to hunt down across several biomes as you search for a missing expedition as part of the main story.

With meaningful improvements to crucial aspects of the experience such as its combat, RPG mechanics, exploration, and more, this game could easily take you past the 100-hour mark if you decide to track down everything you could possibly do within its massive open world. Happy hunting!

6. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

With the series finally taking to the shores of feudal Japan, Naoe and Yasuke’s adventures through its villages, and fields builds on everything good about its past instalments to bring a polished and highly entertaining experience to the table.

There’s a lot to do and see in the studio’s take on Japan, along with several targets to take down. Expect to hit the 100-hour mark if you decide to channel your inner completionist while going even higher if you decide to try out the game on its higher difficulties.

7. Clair Obscur: Expedition 

If you haven’t already travelled to the shores of Lumiere and witnessed Sandfall Interactive’s marvellous spin on RPGs, this is a title that can keep you coming back to its Belle Epoque inspired world for a while yet.

The Expedition’s charm, wit, and determination against overwhelming odds make for a very compelling story while the game’s combat can be very hard to learn but is equally rewarding to master. While it doesn’t match the staggering playtimes of other entries on this list, Clair Obscur is a game that you will want to replay almost instantly for its second ending, and a very well-implemented New Game Plus mode.

8. Kingdom Come Deliverance II

This first-person action RPG brings an expanded open-world and a host of improvements over its predecessor, making it well worth your time to dive into the immersive adventure it offers. There’s a lot of variety in its gameplay loop, with your choices affecting different outcomes across its playtime.

Its story is not to be scoffed at either, bringing wit, charm, and intrigue to the Bohemian countryside in an adventure that can keep you occupied for at least 50 hours while diving into every little detail of its world could easily push you close to about 140 hours.

9. Dying Light: The Beast

While originally envisioned as a DLC expansion for Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Techland went ahead to make a standalone title out of its upcoming survival horror title that’s slated for an August 2025 release.

While it is a more compact experience when compared to Dying Light 2, it could very well keep you very entertained for quite a while considering how immersive its gameplay and mechanics can get. Kyle Crane’s return to the helm of this new adventure is an added bonus, and this one is sure to keep its players coming back for more long after they have rolled the credits on its story.

10. Borderlands 4

Gearbox’s Software’s upcoming first-person looter shooter is set to expand on everything the wildly popular franchise has done in the past. Putting you in the shoes of the Vault Hunter in their resistance against the tyrannical Time Keeper, this title is sure to tip the scales in terms of its playtime while managing to offer a wide range of activities for you to take on.

If Borderlands 3 is any indication, its sequel could easily take you more than a 100 hours to experience fully, and perhaps even more if Gearbox manages to fulfil its ambitions for the game.

11. Metroid Prime 4

Retro Games’ upcoming action adventure title is slated to continue Samus Aran’s adventures after the destruction of Phazon on a new planet with some familiar faces and new ones making their way to the game.

With the introduction of new abilities and features, this upcoming title for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is sure to give you many a reason to explore its world as thoroughly as you can, and perhaps even dive back in for another playthrough once you’re done.

12. Black Myth Wukong (Xbox)

If Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong slipped you by since you’re an Xbox owner, it’s well worth diving into the action this August when the game finally makes it onto the platform.

The Destined One’s rise to Sun Wukong’s greatness is an adventure that can be quite the challenge, with a fully complete playthrough taking well over 60 hours depending on how well you’re able to tackle the many threats you find along the way. There’s a lot to see and do in this visually breathtaking title that brings an excellent combat loop to its relatively linear world. For fans of the Monkey King’s adventures, this one’s a no-brainer.

13. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

The adventure that started Naked Snake’s trajectory to his time as Big Boss is well worth diving back into, with Konami bringing more than just a visual overhaul to a title that needs no introduction.

There’s about 30 hours of play in this game if the original title is any indication, but this Kojima classic is well worth the time you invest into its excellent stealth mechanics and riveting story. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, this is a remake that could very well bring the Metal Gear Solid franchise to a new generation of gamers who may not have had the chance to experience its magic yet.

14. Jurassic World Evolution 3

This sequel to Evolution 2 from the stables of Frontier Developments brings the iconic construction and management sim franchise back for another round. There are over 80 species of dinosaurs to populate you take on Jurassic Park.

What’s more, added functionality like the ability to modify the terrain and share your custom parks, enclosures, and buildings with friends can make Evolution 3 a title that you keep coming back to for a long time, with previous titles clocking in at about a 100 hours for completionists.

15. Silent Hill f

NeoBards and Konami’s survival horror title is primed to bring chills and thrills to the table in equal measures this October with a new adventure taking place in Japan, and new horrors to uncover.

Ebisugaoka is beginning to look like the perfect stage for Konami’s renewed focus on Japanese horror in its latest addition to the long-standing franchise, and while its playtime is anyone’s guess, it could very well be an adventure that you will want to replay several times over if the studio plays its cards right.

BONUS: Mafia: The Old Country

Although Hangar 13 has ditched Mafia 3’s open world for a more linear, story-focused experience this time around, The Old Country is worthy of your attention as it takes the franchise back to the early days of the Mafia for a story that could be the franchise’s flagship.

Current-gen hardware has enabled the studio to bring a visually stunning recreation of early Siciliy to the table while its new protagonist is set to bring a poignant tale of loyalty and inevitable betrayal to the table in this addition to the Mafia lineup this August. Expect a playtime of about 30-40 hours on this one.

And that wraps up our picks from 2025’s lineup of single-player titles that you could dive into as and when you need a new adventure to take on!

Reports about the new game’s map being roughly the same size as the original game point to an approach that many other PlayStation exclusives could have taken for their sequels, making them better instead of just larger. Sucker Punch’s decision to fill the lands of Ezu with more to do in a limited space could make Ghost of Yotei a sequel like no other.

But why is it a clever decision? That’s because of the studio’s approach to making the world it has built for us to explore as much of a main character in the new game as its new protagonist. The gameplay deep dive from Sucker Punch brought many interesting facets of its world building to the forefront of its examination of how it built on its phenomenally successful 2020 release, and there’s a lot to justify its decision to keep the size of its new world more or less the same.

The World Tells A Story

Ghost of Tsushima put the titular island in the spotlight of its narrative, making Jin Sakai’s fight against the Mongols a reflection of his love for the land that he called home. It was a smart way to make his story deeply  personal with the added advantage of reflecting the inner conflict between his upbringing and journey to becoming the Ghost.

Sucker Punch cleverly interspersed beautiful meadows, fields, and villages with areas that were ravaged by the war, painting the Mongols as an ever-present antagonist that showcased the overwhelming odds Jin would face off against and the need for him to become something more than just a samurai. The world it had created justified its narrative in many ways, and by retaining a similar size for Ghost of Yotei, the studio can recreate the integration it so deftly handled the first time around.

For instance, allowing players to look at flashbacks of Atsu’s past life with a simple button press actually addresses one of the few complaints we had with Jin’s story. His own flashbacks often came up during crucial moments in the present, suspending the tension for a trek through his memories that was quite jarring. By giving its players control over when they would like to take a trip down memory lane, Sucker Punch has ensured that its new map puts its players in the driver’s seat.

It also makes narrative sense for the new game to feature a similarly sized map, considering that Atsu doesn’t face an invading army in her tale of revenge, although there are plenty of enemies standing between her and the Yotei Six. As far as the story in its sequel goes, a bigger map, was unnecessary and Sucker Punch has certainly made a good call not to expand on its size.

Sucker Punch keeps Atsu’s feet firmly on the ground even as it makes her even more of a deadly killing machine that Jin. And for the story it is trying to tell, that’s a good thing.

So Much to Do, So Much to See

As far as gameplay is concerned, a map that’s similarly sized to Tsushima once again makes sense for Ghost of Yotei. Sucker Punch’s emphasis on organic discovery of all the content it has brought to the table. Despite its many strengths, Ghost of Tsushima’s side content was among its weak points with repetitive activities of which only some offered rewards that were beneficial to its gameplay loop.

Its side missions were also a sore point, largely devolving into fetch and carry quests that saw Jin go from point A to point B with a few platoons of Mongols to take down. While there were notable exceptions like the Mythic Tales, it was a design flaw that several open world titles at the time fell prey to. However, with current-gen systems raising the bar for the quality of games on offer, it’s high time that changed.

Atsu’s adventure does not run the risk of such needless bloat. Ghost of Yotei’s gameplay loop is primed to be an argument in favor of a more ambitious approach to its world, and having a map that’s full of substantial activity is certainly better than a larger one with that content merely spread out to pad out an already significant playtime.

Indeed, retaining the same map size could allow Sucker Punch to present a world that seems larger than it actually is considering how Atsu must painstakingly assemble clues about the people she hunts by actively engaging with the world around her. It’s an approach that can make her the ultimate predator in a world where her prey is quite good at remaining unseen.

A larger map runs the risk of ruining the engagement that Sucker Punch’s new approach to world building aims to establish. It wouldn’t make sense for Atsu to spend more time in her saddle than she does hunting her targets in a tale that’s focused on presenting a lone wolf hunting what feels like the entire jungle.

It could also help with the main narrative’s pacing and solve a glaring issue that Ghost of Tsushima’s third act brought to the fore. The northernmost part of Tsushima felt empty and barren, with only a handful of activities to dust off before taking on Khotun Khan and the remnants of his dismantled army.

Although Tsushima was by no means small, it could have had so much more variety to its side activities. Sucker Punch’s ambitions for its sequel are better served with a map that does not place size over scope on almost all fronts, allowing for a more focused gameplay loop that sustains the freedom to explore that its players would expect from its open world.

The Quality of a Life

Another reason in favor of Sucker Punch’s decision to not go for a bigger map in Ghost of Yotei is the manner in which it has implemented quality of life changes that make sense for its players. For starters, the ability to make camp while you’re out in the world means, with important NPCs finding you instead of having to hunt them down.

It’s an important change that once again justifies the decision to avoid a larger map in Ghost of Yotei as it simply removes the necessity for it. That’s exacerbated by a more streamlined approach to quests involving NPCs as the new menu that Sucker Punch presented makes managing their different objectives quite easy and is sure to work well with the fast travel system from Ghost of Tsushima that we believe is sure to make a return in the new game.

Moreover, the addition of flower streams that add a boost to your speed while you ride through them is another meaningful tweak that can work in Sucker Punch’s favor. The added speed would have meant nothing if the distance Atsu had to cover was also quite large. However, foregoing the added size ensures that the new addition makes sense from a traversal standpoint, emphasising Sucker Punch’s determination to bring quality over quantity to its new title.

Retaining the same map size is also an opportunity for the studio to integrate more verticality into its world and potentially improve on the climbing mechanics it established in the first game. While they certainly got the job done, it’s unlikely that players would have anything negative to say about more climbing points as they try and hunt down new abilities, or particularly elusive targets who may think that the high ground makes them safe from Atsu’s steel.

Bigger Does Not Translate to Better

All things considered, we believe that Sucker Punch has deftly set itself up for success by going with a map that’s as big as the one it first established for its wildly successful franchise. Doing so ensures that the open world it brings to its players never outstays its inevitable welcome, allowing the studio to craft an experience that puts its players first.

A bigger map would do nothing to elevate the ambitious changes that the studio is bringing to its narrative, gameplay, and exploration mechanics. It would only serve to limit all  meaningful things to do while you’re out exploring the region in Ghost of Yotei, taking away from the experience by making players traverse larger distances for the same reward.

In short, a map similar in size to Tsushima is not a disadvantage. It’s an opportunity for Ghost of Yotei to outshine its predecessor on almost every front. And we believe that Sucker Punch saw that right off the bat when it sat down at its drawing board for its upcoming title.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

She takes on various jobs and bounties for money and revenge. However, it notes her fighting style, means of survival, and the evolution of the Ghost’s legend will “be up to you.” It reinforces the “greater control” over the story promised by the developer (who also wants to avoid the repetitive nature of open-world titles).

Gameplay-wise, the page reaffirmed that players can use dual katana in combat alongside “new mechanics” and “gameplay improvements.” You can also wield brand-new weapon types, like the ōdachi and kusarigama.

Ghost of Yotei doesn’t have a release date, but it’s out this year for PS5. It will also feature “enhanced performance and visuals” on PS5 Pro. Stay tuned for more details and updates en route to its release.

So, nearly a year later after the total failure of one of those live service games, is Sony changing plans? Well, they would be wise to do so since Concord was only one of many stumbling blocks keeping the company from attaining the glory of their PS2 days. PlayStation is at their best when they don’t chase trends, and the current trend of always-online live-service is one that is obviously collapsing under its own colossal weight.

Concord was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Sony regarding its push for AAA live service trendy games. Saying that trend-chasing in today’s gaming landscape is a recipe for disaster is like calling the kettle black, and Concord was the cataclysm that finally cemented that reality for everyone to see. The reason Sony put all money on the project is they intended it to be one of their huge tent-pole titles spanning spin-offs and merchandise in Star Wars-like fashion. Well, that ambition didn’t go so well, with Concord shutting down its servers only two weeks after launch. Concord would go on to be PlayStation’s biggest gaming failure of all time.

But Concord is just the most visible failure in the AAA trend-chasing bubble. PlayStation’s initial push to develop 12 live-service games by 2025 was chopped in half to just 6 last year. What could have caused PlayStation to step back a bit on the trend-chasing train? Well, Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2021 wasn’t paying off as well as they’d hoped, with Destiny 2’s latest expansion The Final Shape, reportedly selling less than previous expansions. Worse yet, Bungie just had 17% of its workforce laid off earlier this year, demonstrating that Sony most likely overpaid their $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie and need to cut costs.

But Sony didn’t just waste money on Concord and Bungie; Naughty Dog’s standalone The last of Us multiplayer game was suddenly cancelled in December of 2023. Naughty Dog’s statement concerning the cancellation speaks volumes about the sustainability issues inherent in live service titles; they went on to state, “We had two paths in front of us: become a solely live service games studio or continue to focus on single-player narrative games that have defined Naughty Dog’s heritage.” Thankfully, Naughty Dog decided to walk the latter path, cutting their live service ambitions; hopefully Sony follows suit and makes the same decision.

Concord and TLOU Online doesn’t cover the full gamut of live-service hurdles the industry has faced recently, but they can give us some insight into why the AAA live service bubble is bursting. AAA liver-service games simply cost too much to maintain and cannot capture an audience that has already found their game of choice. The phrase, “We already have that at home,” sums up the situation well enough. Why play an imitation of the thing you like rather than the thing itself? What PlayStation needs to do is go back to their roots as an industry leader in innovative first-party experiences that cannot be had elsewhere. Why pay $40 for Concord when Overwatch 2 and Destiny 2 are vastly more feature complete, and multiplatform to boot? It’s a Sisyphean uphill battle to make a live-service game from scratch and expect the kind of audience that a longstanding game with an existing infrastructure has.

PlayStation has always been at their best at providing “prestigious” first-party games like Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon, just to name a few. Astro Bot is currently sitting as the most highly rated game of the year with a stunning 94 from critics and users alike on Metacritic. Astro Bot also sold well, ranking at number 2 in US unit sales for September 7th, only sitting behind NBA 2K25. UK sales were record-breaking too, with GamesIndustry.biz confirming that Astro Bot is the “fastest-selling original platformer IP outside of Mario in the last decade”, with 21% higher sales than Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart.

If you look at the best selling PS4 games, you’ll find an interesting trend: single-player first-party games with overwhelmingly positive consumer reception. The top ten list has nary a live-service game in sight while marque single-player experiences like Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel’s Spider-Man dominate with $10+ million in sales. Good games sell, and unique games create fresh new audiences, which is exactly what PlayStation has excelled at in the past and needs once again.

What PlayStation doesn’t need is another Concord on its hands. And it’s looking like that could be a possibility down the line with their 5 or so live-service games in development. With the success of Helldivers 2 earlier this year, it’s still tough to determine how committed Sony is to their initial live-service push. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, Sony’s internal attitude is still very hot on delivering live-service titles; he goes on to state, “PlayStation’s live service initiative was no joke, everybody was like… it’s live service games all round”. According to Schreier, Horizon Online is Sony’s next big live-service gamble, and it’s reportedly coming out before the next Horizon single-player game (Horizon 3). Fairgame$, a heist-based extraction shooter, is another of Sony’s tent-pole online games that they’re betting big on. And then, of course, there’s Bungie’s Marathon project. We have no idea how Marathon development is going at the moment, but considering Bungie’s mass layoffs recently, it may have been slowed and restructured a bit.

Sony hasn’t made a statement amending their live-service push since the failure of Concord, and they’re still going forward with a handful of big budget projects with enthusiasm. If insider sources like Schreier are to be believed, single player experiences like Horizon 3 are being put on the backburner for live-service titles like Horizon Online and Fairgame$. The recently announced Ghost of Yōtei gives a shred of hope that Sony’s single-player strengths are still alive and well, but without much else, it’s hard to pin down what Sony is focusing on. One thing is for sure, Concord spoke to Sony’s wallet and must have at least shifted their commitment to live-service titles in some small way. Add the numerous layoffs at Bungie and the amount of staff and budget required to keep online games ongoing through the years and you have a model that is unsustainable at the rate Sony initially wanted under Jim Ryan’s leadership.

It’s likely that Sony is now aiming for balance between premium first-party single-player titles and live-service games, but until we hear an official statement, it’s all speculation. Regardless, it’s clear to anyone that the live-service market is oversaturated, and the AAA bubble has effectively burst. If a game publisher wants to gain an audience and grow, it needs to offer unique experiences that players can only get there and nowhere else. This is what their competitors have been doing with success despite significantly weaker hardware and what made PlayStation such a leader in the console space for generations. If Sony can keep producing successes like Astro Bot and last year’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, they can potentially capture some of the success they had in their PS2 days.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.