True gaming fans will never have a problem about a Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei as all they care about actually a good game.

Officially, Ghost of Yōtei is en route from Sucker Punch. In addition to placing us in the shoes of a new protagonist, the upcoming adventure, which is a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, will take us to a different part of Japan.

Ghost of Yōtei is going to be released in 2025. | Credit: Sucker Punch Productions.

Like the previous journey with Jin Sakai, our first glimpse of the open-world experience was stunning when it was first revealed as the major closing announcement in the PlayStation State of Play September 2024 showcase. Despite all this hype, the game faced heavy backlash as it will be featuring a female protagonist. But true fans don’t seem to be much bothered about it as something else is even more important.

The gender of the protagonist is never a huge factor for the Ghost of Yōtei fans

Ghost of Yōtei will feature a new protagonist. | Credit: Sucker Punch Productions.

The plot of Ghost of Yōtei will be developed three hundred years after that of Ghost of Tsushima. Atsu, a new samurai warrior, will be the game’s protagonist even though the upcoming title won’t be a direct sequel to its predecessor.

Since Atsu will be the franchise’s first female protagonist, her gender is currently the biggest issue for many people. But that’s not the case with true fans. They aren’t happy with Atsu’s inclusion not because of her gender, but because of the loose ends left in Ghost of Tsushima.

Considering how Ghost of Tsushima concluded, it’s safe to assume that many people were eager to see Jin and Yuna once more and relive their tales. Given how he handled the Uncle Shimura situation, the Shogun’s reaction to Ghost’s presence, and other factors, it makes sense that some would be disappointed to see a different lead.

However, only a PlayStation Blog post and an announcement trailer have been made public by the developers thus far. So her being a female character is not even the main concern for fans now. Actually, this is the least of its worries right now.

The shout was never regarding Atsu’s gender, it was because of Jin’s unfinished business

Ghost of Yōtei could have featured its predecessor’s loose ends. | Credit: Sucker Punch Productions.

When Atsu sets out on her adventure in feudal Japan in 1603, she will hide her face behind the ghost mask as she will write a new chapter in the Ghost franchise, steering away from Jin Sakai.

However, that’s where the problem is. Fans want more of Jin Sakai, and would rather have a continuation of Jin’s story after the events of the Mongol invasion in Tsushima. Many would also have preferred to see Jin and Yuna going against the empire in mainland Japan.

Jin Sakai created the Ghost persona in Ghost of Tsushima. The character’s ultimate goal was connected to his personal narrative and his sense of duty as Tsushima’s guardian. As he and many others were vastly outnumbered by the Mongol invaders on the island, Jin realized he needed to quietly defeat his adversaries. After saving his uncle, Lord Shimura, from the Mongols, Jin persisted in pretending to be the Ghost so that the invaders would be brought to their knees and their leader vanquished.

Naturally, the cause was admirable, but Jin’s transformation into the Ghost eventually caused him to struggle with himself. He had been brought up to uphold the samurai code of honor and values, but to attack his enemies from the shadows meant abandoning them.

Although Jin’s personal journey took place internally, his rejection of Samurai teachings caused him emotional and personal turmoil, particularly when he witnessed how it affected Lord Shimura’s perception of him. This is true even though the Ghost of Tsushima story was about him driving off the Mongol threat on Tsushima Island. And this is where the major controversy began, as we didn’t see the conclusion of that personal journey of Jin.

So, what’s your thought about this matter? Are you going to play Ghost of Yōtei?