Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, Lin Tao, announced during a webcast that Ghost of Yōtei sold better in its first three months than Ghost of Tsushima in the same amount of time. She added that these sales “significantly contributed to the financial results of the quarter.”
A screenshot from Ghost of Yōtei (2025), Sucker Punch
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While this is undoubtedly encouraging news to investors, some analysts note that Yōtei’s higher launch price could have amplified its financial impact, even if unit sales were lower. It also comes as a surprise, given that the game was mired in controversy before its release.
Furthermore, her statements appear to contradict earlier sales reports, leading some to question exactly what “sold better” means.
Controversial Development and Backlash
Set over three hundred years after the events of Tsushima, the sequel featured a female protagonist in a new location. Pre-sales of Yōtei may have been stunted, as gamers fearing a bait-and-switch and agenda-driven storytelling waited for reviews. Many fans were unsatisfied with the significant changes to what had been seen as the start of a promising franchise.
A screenshot from Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT (2024), Sucker Punch Productions
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Development of the game was also steeped in controversy. Drew Harrison, one of the game developers, ignited a firestorm online for making light of Charlie Kirk’s murder. She was subsequently fired, but it created more bad press for a game that many felt was already facing an uphill battle with fans.
Early sales figures did not look good.
Sales Figures, Pricing, and Corporate Messaging
In November, it was reported that sales of Ghost of Yōtei were down 16% compared to Ghost of Tsushima in its first month. According to Sony, Ghost of Tsushima sold 3.8 million units in its first month. Meanwhile, Gematsu reported that Ghost of Yōtei sold 3.3 million units in its first 32 days. After Black Friday, sales figures showed that Yōtei was trailing Tsushima by 20% in the same amount of time on the market.
Yōtei’s post-holiday sales rebound may seem, at first glance, like a Christmas miracle. However, IGN notes some ambiguity in Tao’s wording. She said that Ghost of Yōtei “exceeded the sales” of Ghost of Tsushima “in the same period of time,” without clarifying the exact duration of the period.
A screenshot from Ghost of Yōtei (2025), Sucker Punch
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More importantly, Tao said “sales” and not “units sold.” Tsushima was only $60 at launch, while Yōtei retails for $70. Despite selling fewer units, the $10 price difference across millions of copies could have been a major factor. Emphasizing higher revenue over lower unit sales is arguably a smart move for a CFO.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Tao’s comments only speak to the bottom line. Whether or not more gamers are playing the game than early numbers suggested will remain in question unless Sony decides to share sales figures. Under close inspection, Yōtei doesn’t appear to have truly surpassed Tsushima in popularity, despite careful corporate phrasing.
A screenshot from Ghost of Yōtei (2025), Sucker Punch
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After a series of controversies, disappointing sales figures, and a general lack of momentum, Sony needed Yōtei to look strong — not to the gamers or the press, but the shareholders. Consumers can continue to debate the quality of the games. But what matters most to the company and its investors has for now been settled.
Did you buy Ghost of Yōtei? Let us know in the comments!
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I forgot this garbage existed. The only useful thing about it was revealing that Sucker Punch are woke clowns.
This trash didn’t “reveal” that they were woke, and so didn’t the previous trash gayme (which that one also had some minor faggot shit in it AFAIK), they already went woke all the way back in 2014 with Infamous Second Son which had rainbow flaggots in it.