WithGhost of Yotei, Sucker Punch is doing something bold and unexpected. For over four years,speculation has poured forth about theGhost of Tsushimasequel, with fans questioning what the story would look like, what new mechanics would be introduced, and what would be the greatest overall changes from its predecessor. But few predicted that it would take place several hundred years in the future, with a protagonist that has no obvious connection to Jin Sakai.
The value of this creative decision goes far beyond the element of surprise, though, as the introduction of the new hero Atsu has the potential to lead to great things forGhost of Yotei. For one thing, while there would probably have been room for a new story with Jin at the helm, especially considering the historical context of a second Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima shortly after the first, it could have easily felt forced. That’s the issue with franchise-building: if the creative minds behind a series don’t have a clear vision for a multi-installment story, then there’s a good chance that the narrative will flounder, running out of steam and being puppeted by the necromantic forces of the market rather than the vivid ideals of the writers and artists that breathed life into the project in the first place.
Ghost of Yotei Switching Protagonists Is a Good Decision, and Other Sony Games Should Follow Suit
Ghost of Yotei Ensures Longevity With a Loose Commitment to Protagonists
It’s not clear how many more games Sony is planning to fund within this franchise, butGhost of Yoteiflings open creative doors with Atsu, leaving a lot of wiggle room for Sucker Punch down the road. By essentially establishing theGhostseries as an anthology, Sucker Punch is now free to tell a variety of different stories; the studio doesn’t have to be hitched to a single hero or setting, forcing them back into conflict even if it’s unnatural or doesn’t have a lot of potential.
This is something that other Sony-controlled franchises could learn from. Right now, series likeHorizonare defined by their protagonists, but this won’t work forever—and if history has shown gaming audiences anything, it’s that companies will certainly try to make successful franchises work indefinitely. But sticking to one protagonist over the course of countless entries can be tricky due to the aforementioned complications, andHorizonis far from the only Sony franchise facing down the barrel of this conundrum. Others include:
The Future of Sony’s Franchises Could Be Defined by Variety
Ghost of Yoteishakes up audience expectations for theTsushimasequel, and that’s a good thing. It makes the upcoming title more exciting and less routine, and it opens the door to even more experimentation in the future. As video game storytelling matures, this sort of experimentation and willingness to embrace change will be crucial for IP looking to stick around for multiple entries. Modern audiences are already getting tired of the low-commitment, interchangeable nature of franchises like the MCU, and it’s certainly not uncommon to see video game series suffer from similar issues of fatigue.
But by focusing more on the spirit of specific gaming IP, not being too beholden to specific protagonists, nostalgia, and the desire to pander to fans, otherSony franchises could get more mileage out of their worlds, mechanics, and traditions.God of Warcould grow beyond Kratos,Unchartedcould tell stories with a hero other than Nathan Drake,Returnalcould explore different sci-fi themes with a character besides Selene. MaybeGhost of Yoteiis only the first step in Sony studios loosening their grip on tradition, putting natural creative drive and risk-taking front and center.
