During Sony’s recent State of Play event, they revealed Ghost of Yotei, the follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima.
Instead of continuing Jin Sakai’s journey, Ghost of Yotei is set centuries later and introduces a new female ronin named Atsu, who adopts Jin’s Ghost persona. Predictably, some gamers are upset about playing as a female character, sparking backlash. This led to a response from Shawn Layden, an ex-Sony executive.
Layden, who used to be the chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, addressed the complaints on X. He said, “It’s a game. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
1 It’s a game. An entertainment. A story a team of creators believes in. They want to make this.
2 it’s a game. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. In fact, why not make the game you want yourself?— shawn layden (@ShawnLayden)
It’s surprising that having Atsu as the main character has caused such a stir among some players. Many Japan-themed games, like Tenchu: Fatal Shadows and Red Ninja: End of Honor, have had female leads. Just because Atsu is the Ghost now doesn’t mean someone else can’t take on the role in future games.
Sony and Sucker Punch Productions haven’t shown any gameplay for Ghost of Yotei yet, but it’s expected to release on PlayStation 5 in 2025.
