Ghost of Yotei’s Doubled the Game’s Size
Ghost of Yotei has been praised as a cinematic masterpiece and a worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima. However, a recent revelation from the game’s creative director has unveiled an alternate version of the game that was almost twice as large, featuring a mechanic that was dramatically scaled back before release.
In an interview, Sucker Punch’s Creative Director Jason Connell shared fascinating details about the development of the game’s signature time-travel feature. This mechanic allows protagonist Atsu to revisit her childhood memories in specific, story-driven locations, offering crucial insight into her past.
But according to Connell, the initial vision was far more ambitious. The original plan was to make this time-travel ability available almost everywhere in the vast open world of Ezo.
“It started off as let’s do that in as many places as we can, maybe everywhere,” Connell explained. This ambitious idea would have allowed players to instantly shift between the present-day world and Atsu’s childhood perspective at the touch of a button, anywhere on the map.
However, the team soon realized the immense technical and artistic challenge this posed. Connell noted that implementing such a system universally meant “you are doubling your art,” as the developers would have to create and manage two distinct versions of nearly every environment in the game.
This would have been a monumental task, effectively requiring the construction of two full-sized game worlds. While a thrilling concept, the team made the difficult but necessary decision to rein in the feature, limiting it to key narrative moments.
Calling it a “sad” day when he had to “kill” the broader vision, Connell also affirmed it was the “right choice.” By focusing the time travel on specific, impactful locations, the team ensured it served as a powerful narrative tool rather than a diluted gameplay gimmick.
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This behind-the-scenes insight highlights the difficult trade-offs in game development, even for a studio as renowned as Sucker Punch. The decision ultimately helped create a more polished and narratively focused experience, which has been celebrated by critics and players alike.
Ghost of Yotei is available now on PlayStation 5, with a free multiplayer Legends mode scheduled to arrive in 2026.