Summary
Ghost of Yoteiis perhaps the boldest step forward that Sucker Punch could have taken after the huge success ofGhost of Tsushima, simply due to its decision to turn the Ghost into an idea rather than a persona for only one character to become. In taking this route, Sucker Punch has effectively turnedGhost of Tsushimainto a full-blown franchisewithGhost of Yotei, securing a path forward that suggests each game will feature a brand-new protagonist who has chosen to don the mask of the Ghost for personal reasons or a call to greater responsibility.
Despite the leaps Sucker Punch has chosen to take withGhost of Yotei, that doesn’t necessarily mean the story of Jin Sakai,Ghost of Tsushima’s protagonist, has to come to an end. For now, theGhostfranchise’s overarching narrative will indeed be focused onGhost of Yotei’s new protagonist, Atsu, as she travels to Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido) in search of vengeance. However, there is no reason to suggest that theGhostfranchise will neglect to return to Jin Sakai’s story in a future installment, especially in light of howGhost of Tsushimaended. In short,Ghost of Yoteimay just be a detour in a long journey for Sucker Punch’s beloved franchise.
Ghost of Yotei Doesn’t Mean the End for Jin’s Story
Ghost’s Franchise Status Opens the Door Wide for the Future
While Sucker Punch’s decision to move beyond thestory of Jin Sakai(for now) has proven to be divisive among fans, there is no denying the limitless possibilities that theGhostfranchise has now opened itself up to with the upcoming release ofGhost of Yotei. By choosing to divorce the idea of focusing solely on one character’s story, theGhostfranchise can essentially do whatever it wants from here on out, even if it means viewing the concept of the Ghost through a different lens with each installment.
It’s very similar to what Ubisoft has done with itsAssassin’s Creedseries, which, for the most part, has featured a new protagonist in each installment. Yet, despite how neweach story in theAssassin’s Creedfranchiseis designed to be, they are all connected through one massive overarching narrative. Sucker Punch can now do something similar with theGhostfranchise, and it more than likely will. As such, fans should expectGhost of Yoteito maintain its ties toGhost of Tsushimain one way or another, as well as future entries.
Ghost of Tsushima Could Still Receive a Sequel Somewhere Down the Line
In light of the open-ended direction Sucker Punch has chosen to take theGhostfranchise, there’s plenty of reason to believe thatGhost of Tsushimawill get a direct sequel somewhere down the line. It could be that Sucker Punch wants to establish a certain context for aGhost of Tsushimasequel that can only be done by telling a different story or two first. In a way, it’s like what The Coalition is doing withGears of War: E-Day. While theGears of Warseries' next game could have beenGears 6, The Coalition has chosen instead to releaseGears of War: E-Day— a prequelto the firstGears of Wargame — in order to provide more context for the story ofGears 6.
By choosing to divorce the idea of focusing solely on one character’s story, theGhostfranchise can essentially do whatever it wants from here on out, even if it means viewing the concept of the Ghost through a different lens with each installment.
In other words, fans shouldn’t give up hope just yet for a directGhost of Tsushimasequel. More than likely, Sucker Punch has heavily weighed the impact that burying Jin Sakai without a word would have onGhostfans and the franchise itself, so there’s little reason to believe that the developer is done with its flagship protagonist. As such, it’s reasonable to believe that theGhostfranchise might get another game or two afterGhost of Yoteibefore returning toGhost of Tsushima, although that is entirely based on speculation. If nothing else, Jin will likely be remembered, spoken of, and may even appear in some capacity in futureGhosttitles.
