The wait for Ghost of Yotei continues, but Sucker Punch just ensured that wait would be accompanied by a State of Play deep dive that showcased around 20 minutes of gameplay footage. During the State of Play, fans got a deeper look at the world, combat, story, and characters of Ghost of Yotei, but there are still plenty of questions left unanswered. In fact, one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the game still remains a mystery after the showcase, though the showcase somehow made that mystery even bigger.
One of the most mysterious characters in Ghost of Yotei is Atsu's wolf companion, as it is a unique addition to the game that wasn't in Ghost of Tsushima. Sure, Jin had his horse to accompany him on his own journey, but Atsu has both a horse and a wolf, leading to speculation as to why the wolf is there in the first place. Naturally, this has led to the wolf becoming a very intriguing character, and Ghost of Yotei's State of Play just dropped a subtle clue that made it all the more intriguing.
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Ghost of Yotei's State of Play Gave the Wolf Its Biggest Clue Yet
'Mysterious Wolf' Isn't Just a Throwaway Line
Ghost of Yotei's State of Play was already not very long, so there wasn't very much time to show off loads of content. However, whereas every other feature discussed in the showcase received a large enough segment to at least give fans something to chew on, the wolf was talked about for a grand total of about 5 seconds. The fact that it was practically dismissed during the State of Play might make it seem like it's an unimportant, mundane, or typical animal companion, but it was Sucker Punch's description of the wolf that indicates it plays a more pivotal role than it may seem.
One of the most mysterious characters in Ghost of Yotei is Atsu's wolf companion, as it is a unique addition to the game that wasn't in Ghost of Tsushima.
During the gameplay deep dive, Sucker Punch mentions that Atsu is joined by a "mysterious wolf." That's it. After that, the show goes on, and the wolf is never mentioned again. However, that lack of exposition isn't an oversight but a breadcrumb. More than encouraging fans to dismiss the wolf, it actually raises more questions about its purpose and simultaneously makes theories about its role more valid. If the wolf truly means nothing to Ghost of Yotei's story, then Sucker Punch likely wouldn't have referred to it as "mysterious." In other words, that label may be one of the most important clues the game has dropped so far.
Theories Around the Wolf Just Became Harder to Ignore
Theories about the wolf being a manifestation of Atsu's family or the spirit of a loved one have been floating around since Ghost of Yotei's first reveal, but the State of Play only adds fuel to those fires. Referring to the wolf as "mysterious" practically confirms there's something special about it, and with Ghost of Yotei seemingly drawing inspiration from feudal Japanese culture and folklore, it wouldn't be far-fetched for the wolf to serve as a spiritual guide in the same way that Ghost of Tsushima's Guiding Wind served as the spirit of Jin's father.
If anything, the way Ghost of Yotei's State of Play casually acknowledged the wolf without explaining it might be the clearest sign yet that this isn't just a canine companion that will help out in combat simply because Atsu stopped on the side of the road to give it some food or treat its wounds. Rather than spoil the surprise, Sucker Punch clearly wants fans to start asking more questions about the wolf, banking on them picking up on subtle hints and drawing their own conclusions. Whether the wolf ends up being a spirit, a symbol, or something else entirely, the mystery surrounding it is now larger than ever and fans can almost count on it being something more than it seems.
Ghost of Yotei
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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
