Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has addressed critics of Ghost of Yotei, following the surge of online negativity directed at the new protagonist of the sequel.
Since the September 2024 PlayStation State of Play, there has been significant backlash towards Atsu – the female protagonist of Ghost of Yotei. Erika Ishii, who voices Atsu, has also faced harassment from online trolls following her casting announcement.
The backlash primarily arises from the expectation among many Ghost of Tsushima fans for the return of the previous protagonist, Jin Sakai. However, this expectation has been shattered, as it’s confirmed that Ghost of Yotei is set over 300 years after the events of the original title.
While we believe that introducing a new hero is beneficial for the series overall, some fans argue that Ghost of Yotei doesn’t qualify as a true sequel. Nonetheless, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has a stern message for the detractors.
“One, it’s a game. An entertainment. A story a team of creators believes in. They want to make this,” Layden posted on X. “Two, it’s a game. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. In fact, why not make the game you want yourself?”
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) September 25, 2024
From his tweet, it’s evident that Layden is unsympathetic to fans who have targeted Sucker Punch Productions and its leading voice actress. Senior Communications Manager Andrew Goldfarb has also reinforced the rationale for having a new main character.
“We also wanted to continue to innovate. To create something fresh but familiar, we looked beyond Jin Sakai’s story and the island of Tsushima and shifted our focus to the idea of the Ghost instead,” he stated via PlayStation Blog.
“At Sucker Punch, we love origin stories, and we wanted to explore what it could mean to have a new hero wearing a Ghost mask, uncovering a new legend.”
The new setting in Hokkaido, along with new weapons and a compelling protagonist, should offer an enticing experience. A considerable amount of time and effort has clearly gone into the development of Ghost of Yotei, and for many eager fans, this alone makes the 2025 release date worthwhile.
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