Ghost of Yotei, PlayStation’s highly anticipated samurai adventure, has seen a steady but not spectacular debut in the U.S. market — matching the performance of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, in overall revenue, according to analyst Mat Piscatella of Circana.
A Solid Start — But Not a Sensational One
While Sony has yet to reveal official global sales figures for Ghost of Yotei, early data from U.S. retail performance suggests the game is doing about as well as Ghost of Tsushima did at launch in 2020.
Piscatella described the results as “perfectly fine… not amazing, not bad” — a balanced outcome for a sequel following one of PlayStation’s most beloved titles.
The comparison comes with some nuance. Ghost of Tsushima launched in July 2020, during the global lockdowns, when gaming engagement hit record highs. Back then, the PlayStation 4 had a roughly 20% larger player base than today’s PS5, which naturally helped boost sales.
Sales Breakdown: Slightly Fewer Units, Slightly More Revenue
According to Circana’s report, Ghost of Yotei’s U.S. launch-week unit sales were down by a mid-single digit percentage compared to Ghost of Tsushima. However, dollar sales were up by a similar margin, largely due to a 12% higher average price for the PS5 exclusive.
“So, effectively flat,” Piscatella summarized — meaning that while fewer copies were sold, the higher price tag balanced things out.
A Changing Market Context
Piscatella emphasized that direct comparisons between 2020 and 2025 can be misleading. “Everyone was home in July 2020, and gaming saw a significant boom in player count and engagement,” he noted.
Despite today’s smaller PS5 install base, Ghost of Yotei still managed to match its predecessor’s launch performance, suggesting strong brand loyalty and continued interest in Sucker Punch’s open-world samurai universe.
The True Test Lies Ahead
While the initial sales are stable, analysts agree that the real test for Ghost of Yotei will be its long-term performance.
Sustained engagement, word-of-mouth, and post-launch support will determine whether it can mirror Ghost of Tsushima’s impressive trajectory — which surpassed 13 million copies sold by September 2024.
“We don’t yet know Sony’s internal targets,” Piscatella added. “It could be underperforming, doing fine, or even exceeding expectations. But for now, in the U.S., it was a perfectly fine launch.”
European Sales Show Similar Trends
Across Europe, Ghost of Yotei is performing in line with Tsushima’s debut, according to The Game Business. Interestingly, it has become PlayStation’s biggest first-party launch since Spider-Man 2 in October 2023 — even outpacing Helldivers 2 in early momentum, despite that game’s eventual record-breaking success.
What’s Next for Sucker Punch
Looking ahead, Sucker Punch Productions isn’t rushing into its next project. In a recent interview with VGC, co-founder and studio head Brian Fleming revealed that the team will decide its next steps after releasing Ghost of Yotei: Legends, a multiplayer expansion slated for 2026.
Fleming also reiterated the studio’s philosophy of focusing on “one project at a time,” meaning fans shouldn’t expect a flurry of new titles in the near future.
Final Thoughts
So far, Ghost of Yotei’s U.S. launch can be summed up in two words: “perfectly fine.” It may not have broken records, but it has held steady in a much tougher market.
If post-launch updates, strong reviews, and positive player sentiment continue, Ghost of Yotei could still follow in Tsushima’s footsteps as one of Sony’s long-term success stories.
Hey, I’m Saim — a passionate gamer and tech enthusiast who loves exploring the latest games, mobile phones, and gadgets. I started Bubucaca to share honest opinions, news, and insights that help gamers and mobile lovers stay updated.