Feudal Japan (around1185 AD-1600 AD) has always been a popular setting for video games. 1981’sKawanakajima no Kassenwas a very early PC strategy game that dropped players in the Sengoku Period, and since then, there have been countless video games that have been set during the same stretch of 400 years or so, ranging fromstealth games likeTenchu, to action games likeSamurai Warriors, to large-scale open-world games likeGhost of Tsushimaand its upcoming successor,Ghost of Yotei.
Set in the year 1603 AD,Ghost of Yoteitechnically takes place right at the very end of the Feudal Japan era. As such, players can expect to see plenty of era-specific iconography, such as the use of katanas and bows, but also the introduction of more modern weapons like the series' new Matchlock rifle. There should be plenty of new features to keepGhost of Yotei’s historical setting engaging, and when compared to the rest of PlayStation’s upcoming first-party line-up, it’ll stand out by a country mile.
Ghost of Yotei’s Setting Should Set It Apart From PlayStation’s Upcoming Slate
PlayStation Is Going All-In on Sci-Fi
Though Kojima Productions isn’t owned by Sony, the upcomingDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachis being published by SIE, and it’ll be releasing exclusively on PlayStation 5 on its June 26 release date. ThoughDeath Strandingdoesn’t belong to just one genre, it has plenty of supernatural Sci-Fi themes and imagery, including suits of high-tech armor, mechs, robotic arms, and mysterious alien-like beings.
Naughty Dog’s long-rumored Sci-Fi project was finally revealed duringlast year’s Game Awards ceremony. TitledIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Dog’s new IP will see players take on the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter who’s sent to the remote world of Sempiria.Intergalacticadopts a retro-futuristic aesthetic, where 1980s technology is given a space-y twist.
Sony’s February State of Playconfirmed that Housemarque is working on another Sci-Fi game, this time being a sort of spiritual successor toReturnalthat sees players trying to break from another time-loop, this time on the colony world of Carcosa. It’s also been rumored that Santa Monica Studios is working on a Sci-Fi IP alongside a potential newGod of Wargame.
That’s not forgettingBungie’sMarathon, a Sci-Fi live-service multiplayer shooter that’s had its fair share of alleged development issues but one that’s still on the way regardless. And, of course, Guerrilla Games’Horizonfranchise is still going strong, with a multiplayer entry still believed to be in development, possibly alongside a third installment. PlayStation’s first-party line-up is filled pretty much exclusively with Sci-Fi-themed video games, which should allowGhost of Yotei’s Feudal Japan setting to stand out immediately.
Ghost of Yotei’s Setting Can’t Rest on its Laurels
But whileGhost of Yoteiwill have no problem standing out from PlayStation’s upcoming slate, it might have a tougher time standing out from the wealth of othergames set during the Feudal Japan era.Assassin’s Creed ShadowsandOnimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remasteredare both due out in the coming months, and more games like them are bound to be on the way soon. This means thatGhost of Yoteican’t rest on its laurels, especially when it comes to its open-world design.
