Summary
BothGhost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4are breaking the mold of their predecessors by featuring female protagonists rather than the male protagonists their IPs are known for.Ghost of Yotei’s predecessor,Ghost of Tsushima, was Jin Sakai, a male protagonist whose journey was one of forsaking honor in the name of responsibility.Ghost of Yotei, however, is introducing Atsu, a female protagonist whose story is one of “underdog vengeance,” as Sucker Punch puts it.The Witcher 4, on the other hand, is replacing its longstanding male protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, with a female protagonist, Ciri, marking the first time the series has ever asked Geralt to step aside as the lead.
WhileGhost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4’s choice to feature female leads rather than male leads is a significant departure for each IP, it could result in both games sharing an advantageous similarity over their predecessors. Specifically, based on what has been revealed so far aboutGhost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4’s gameplay, the female protagonists of each game may be granted access to a wider range of customization and cosmetic options than their male predecessors.
Ghost of Yotei and The Witcher 4’s Female Protagonists Could Share an Advantageous Similarity
Both Ghost of Yotei and The Witcher 4 Are Expected to Have Plenty of Customization Options
As the games that have gone before them have indicated,Ghost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4are expected to have plenty of customization options for their protagonists in terms of wardrobe. Character appearance customization is most likely off the table, as each of these games has a specific tale to tell regarding their lead characters. However,outfit customizationis almost a given, as bothGhost of TsushimaandThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntallowed players to change the look and combat disposition of Jin Sakai and Geralt, respectively.
Female Protagonists Could Mean an Even Greater Emphasis on Fashion and Customization
While it hasn’t been outright confirmed,Ghost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4’sfemale protagonistscould mean an even greater emphasis on fashion and customization than the male protagonists of each game’s predecessor allowed. It was indeed possible to make both Jin and Geralt look great in their games, but these options were still not only limited but also verged on being indistinct at times.
As the games that have gone before them have indicated,Ghost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4are expected to have plenty of customization options for their protagonists in terms of wardrobe.
Historically,female characters in gameshave often been associated with a broader range of customization features, including varied outfits and accessories. Culturally, fashion and style have been more emphasized in women’s clothing, and games tend to mirror this trend. As such, developers often tap into this by offering diverse hairstyles, outfits, accessories, and color palettes for female characters — everything from elegant dresses to tactical gear. That being said, it’s not just about realism but about allowing all players, regardless of gender, to express their individuality and personality in a game.
Female gamers have also been known to express a greater desire for personalization in their games, and developers have responded to this by featuring more variety in customization options.
In light of all this, sinceGhost of YoteiandThe Witcher 4have chosen female protagonists as their lead characters, and each game is expected to feature outfit customization options for players to tinker with, it could be that they end up featuring an abundance of options in comparison to their predecessors. Additionally, it would be natural for those options to be even more diverse than whatJin Sakai and Geraltwere offered, allowing players deeper personalization of each protagonist.
