For years, theAssassin’s Creedfranchise has been taking players on fantastical adventures throughout history. They have gotten to sail the high seas as pirates, fight their way through the American Revolution, experience the Renaissance, take a trip back to Ancient Rome, and conquer the world as a Viking. However, throughout all of this, players have been clamoring for the franchise to take a trip to Japan. And finally, after years of waiting,Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas delivered on that potential.
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas put players in the shoes of an assassin and a samurai in 16th-century Japan, which has made for a fantastic adventure. Players are finally getting theAssassin’s Creedgame they have been clamoring for, and through post-launch content, that experience will only get grander. But, at the same time, Sucker Punch was aiming to fill that very void with the likes ofGhost of Tsushima. While that game did successfully do that, its sequel,Ghost of Yotei,may struggle to do the same thing now that Ubisoft has delivered.
Assassin’s Creed Has Finally Filled the Void Sucker Punch Was Filling
Although that may not have been the main goal,Ghost of Tsushimadelivered exactly whatAssassin’s Creedfans had been looking forback in 2020. While it had nothing to do with Ubisoft’s franchise, it finally put players in the shoes of a samurai in an open-world action adventure. Players fell in love with its world, the combat was top-notch, and the story was a fantastic ride from start to finish. Plus, its many similarities to theAssassin’s Creedfranchise really helped draw that audience in, making for an exciting new franchise in the process.
Ghost of Tsushimareally came at a perfect time asAssassin’s Creedfans had been calling for a Japan-focused adventure to no avail. At the same time, that series was exploringthe age of Vikings inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, which made for a great experience but not the one some players were really looking for. So, when Sucker Punch delivered its own adventure, many were penning it asAssassin’s Creedin all but name. But now that Ubisoft has finally taken a trip back to Japan,Ghost of Yoteiwill likely not have the same success.
Ghost of Yotei May Not Have the Same Success
UnlikeGhost of Tsushima,Ghost of Yoteiis launching shortly afterAssassin’s Creed Shadows. This means that players will have already spent the first half of this year exploring Japan, and Sucker Punch is hoping they will do it all over again in the latter half of the year. Not only may the games be too similar to go from one to the next, but even if they are not, players will no doubt endlessly compare the two. Already,Ghost of Tsushimawas being compared toAssassin’s Creed, so now that the franchise is actually exploring the same location, those comparisons will only become more prevalent.
On top of that, Ubisoft has plans for many post-launch updates toAssassin’s Creed Shadows, with some likely launching aroundthe same time asGhost of Yotei’s release. That means that the game will have significantly increased competition, so Sucker Punch will need to ensure it knocks it out of the park. Because if the game falters or ends up not matching the heights ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows, then players may have little reason to make the jump over.
Of course,Ghost of Yoteiwill likely have its fans, especially since it is one of the fewmajor PlayStation 5 exclusivesof 2025. That being said,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsmay have put it in a tough spot as it will no longer be filling a void. It remains to be seen just how much of an effect that will have, and even if it does hurt the game a bit, it will still be nice to see numerous action adventures within Japan. Having more options is always a good thing, even if it also means increased competition for the studios.
