Sucker Punch, the developers behind Ghost of Yōtei, reveal why they chose Hokkaido as the game's main setting. Dive into this article to discover how they recreated Hokkaido and their enriching experiences during trips to Japan.
Ghost of Yōtei: Embracing Hokkaido as the Main Setting
Ghost of Yōtei continues Sucker Punch's tradition of bringing real-life Japanese locations into their games, setting the narrative in Ezo, now known as Hokkaido. In a detailed PlayStation Blog post dated May 15, Nate Fox, Game Director at Sucker Punch, explained the rationale behind selecting Hokkaido for protagonist Atsu's journey.
This approach is not new for Sucker Punch, as they previously brought Tsushima Island to life in their first Ghost series game. Their authentic portrayal earned them high praise from Japanese critics, and Game Director Nate Fox and Creative Director Jason Connell were honored as ambassadors of the real Tsushima island for their cultural representation.
Tsushima's Mayor Naoki Hitakatsu expressed his gratitude in a 2021 statement, highlighting the game's role in educating people about the Gen-ko period and Tsushima's history. "Many Japanese are unaware of the Gen-ko era's history. Globally, Tsushima's name and location are virtually unknown. We are immensely thankful to Sucker Punch for sharing our story with stunning visuals and deep narratives," Hitakatsu remarked.
Sucker Punch's goal for both games is to "deliver a feeling of authenticity and believability to our fictional story." For Ghost of Yōtei, Hokkaido was chosen for its "unbelievable beauty" and its historical significance as the edge of the Japanese empire in 1603. Fox emphasized that it was the perfect setting for Atsu's revenge story, allowing players to see how her actions influence perceptions of her. He noted, "If you're going to tell a ghost story, do it in a dramatic location."
The Perfect Blend of Beauty and Danger
To authentically capture Hokkaido, Sucker Punch made two trips to Japan. Nate Fox highlighted these trips as one of the most rewarding aspects of their work. One key location they visited was Shiretoko National Park, which offered a blend of natural beauty and a sense of danger.
This combination of serenity and adversity inspired the team. "A perfect marriage of beauty and danger, that was the exact feeling we wanted for our game. That's when I knew Hokkaido was the right choice," Fox shared.
Another significant site was Mt. Yōtei, revered by the Ainu people as "Machineshir," or "the Female Mountain." The Ainu, Hokkaido's indigenous people, have a deep connection with nature and consider the mountain sacred. For the developers, this mountain symbolized Hokkaido and represented Atsu's lost family.
Fox emphasized how engaging with locals and exploring new concepts during these trips enriched their experience. These journeys helped them "capture the spirit of it in our fictional version of the island." Acknowledging their initial cultural ignorance as foreigners, Sucker Punch aims to address this in future updates.
As their most ambitious project to date, Ghost of Yōtei is set to launch on October 2, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Stay tuned for more information on this highly anticipated game.
