Ghost of Yotei has been one of 2025’s most anticipated titles. The long-awaited sequel to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei sees the return of developer Sucker Punch Productions with what’s sure to be its biggest title yet. Set over 300 years after its predecessor and with a brand-new protagonist at the forefront, this new game looks to be Sony’s major Game of the Year contender in the same way that the first game was.
After a few months of radio silence from the publisher, Sony has finally returned and announced the release date for Ghost of Yotei. Finally, fans can feel comfortable knowing that Sony’s long-awaited sequel will be released this year. Even so, Ghost of Yotei’s impending release date feels a bit bold, especially considering the elephant in the room that is one of 2025’s other supposed major releases.
Ghost of Yotei Can't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater with its Bold Approach to Repetition
Sucker Punch wants to do away with most repetitive elements from Ghost of Tsushima in Yotei, but it should err on the side of caution.
Ghost of Yotei’s Release Date Sees Sony Taking A Big Swing
Ghost of Yotei’s October Release Differentiates It From The First Game’s Summer Date
Ghost of Yotei’s latest trailer confirms that the game will release on October 2. This date allows it to slide in alongside Sony’s other major first-party PlayStation 5 games this year, including Lost Soul Aside, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and Marathon. With this being the last of the four games to be released, Sony is clearly positioning Ghost of Yotei as its major Holiday release for 2025.
This title’s Holiday release is also a major change from Ghost of Tsushima’s release date. Back in 2020, that game was released in July and served as a swan song for the PlayStation 4, while Sony spent the subsequent Holiday focusing on the release of the PlayStation 5. Five years later, Ghost of Yotei will likely receive the bulk of Sony’s marketing attention over the Holiday season, and it should help push plenty of PlayStation 5 consoles off the shelves.
Sony Shows Confidence By Releasing Ghost of Yotei This Holiday Amidst Grand Theft Auto 6
As it is, though, Ghost of Yotei’s release date feels incredibly bold considering the elephant in the room that is Grand Theft Auto 6. One of the most anticipated game releases in recent memory, Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to release in the back half of the year, and there has been heavy discussion regarding its release cannibalizing other titles. Considering the incomparable success of Grand Theft Auto 5 — over 210 million copies sold, the second-highest-selling game of all time — some publishers may attempt to avoid the Holiday season altogether lest they lose sales to Rockstar’s game.
On one hand, though, Sony's positioning of Ghost of Yotei with an October release as a major Holiday game indicates that the publisher is confident the game will succeed independent of what Grand Theft Auto 6 does. The publisher has every right to be that confident, considering that Ghost of Tsushima was already one of 2020’s most acclaimed games and was a major commercial success with over 13 million copies sold. Combining the previous entry’s success with the great anticipation for this new title, Sony’s new title should find success regardless of Grand Theft Auto 6’s release.
Sony's positioning of Ghost of Yotei with an October release as a major Holiday game indicates that the publisher is confident the game will succeed independent of what Grand Theft Auto 6 does.
Ghost of Yotei’s Release May Indicate A Grand Theft Auto 6 Delay
In another breath, Sony’s official confirmation of Ghost of Yotei’s date could be a sign that Grand Theft Auto 6 may not even release in 2025. After all, while Rockstar and publisher Take-Two Interactive have frequently reiterated that the game is on track to release last year, no gameplay footage has been shown yet, and the game’s December 2023 trailer remains the only official promotion released thus far. Ghost of Yotei’s release is either a sign that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not release in 2025, or it could be Sony showing impatience with the game dragging its feet and just pushing its own game.
Ghost of Yotei will be one of this Holiday’s most exciting games, regardless of what other titles release around it, though the October release feels like a bold and confident move. Considering all the discussion that’s centered around the impending release of Grand Theft Auto 6, Sony is taking a major swing by positioning it as its big Holiday release regardless of what Take-Two and Rockstar do. Here’s hoping Ghost of Yotei delivers on the years of hype and continues the franchise’s success independent of what Grand Theft Auto 6 does.
Ghost of Yotei
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
