It’s been a strange year for the gaming industry. Exclusivity has seemingly become a thing of the past, or at the least appears to be on its way out. Microsoft has released numerous titles on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, including Forza Horizon 5 which proved to be one of the best selling games on PS5. This brings us to Sony, which is still releasing strong exclusives for its console with one exception. Helldivers 2 proved to be the first PS5 exclusive that made the jump to Xbox. As the year is nearing an end, Sony is gearing up to release the final PS5 exclusive of 2025.
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Ghost of Yotei is the highly-anticipated sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, one of Sony’s most beloved titles. Developer Sucker Punch has been heavily marketing the game leading up to its October 2nd release, and I am beyond excited for this title. Going back to Japan, especially one crafted by the same team behind Ghost of Tsushima, promises to be beautiful and engaging, and it’s clear to see why Sony is ending its year with this title.
What To Expect From Ghost of Yotei
The expectations are high for Ghost of Yotei. Its predecessor was one of the most celebrated new IPS of the PlayStation 4 era. Detailed worldbuilding, engaging combat, and a reverance for history all sealed it as one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives. Sucker Punch aims to expand on what made the first game successful while delivering an experience that will feel familiar yet fresh to players. As the last PS5 exclusive of the year, extra pressure on Ghost of Yotei to succeed in the challenging task of following Ghost of Tsushima.
Players can expect a new story and protagonist from the sequel. Atsu is on a quest for vengeance, which will deliver a tale of moral ambiguity compared to Jin’s goals. This decision will likely be hit or miss among fans and generate debate similar to another PS5 blockbuster, The Last of Us Part II. Aside from this story element, the combat system has been greatly expanded to include more versatility. This same versatility has been applied to the world with detailed environments, improved AI, and more polish that is typical of Sony’s reputation.
Review scores for Ghost of Yotei are showing that not only is it a worthy sequel and expands upon what the first achieved in nearly every way. Ghost of Tsushima was already a critical hit, but Sucker Punch refined Yotei with deeper combat, more emotional storytelling, and delivering an expansive world. As 2025 winds down, Ghost of Yotei has emerged as the perfect game to close out the year, a reminder of why PlayStation’s exclusives continue to set the industry standard.
Sony’s Plans For 2026 After Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei may be the last true PS5 exclusive of the year, but 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for Sony. One of the biggest games next year will be Marvel’s Wolverine in the Fall of 2026. Sony’s September State of Play gave an in-depth look at Logan and gameplay for Insomniac’s new game. It is striving for comic book accuracy and reamins true to the brutal intensity of Wolverine’s fighting style. Fans can look forward to more information in the Spring of 2026.
Another major title that just received a release date during the same State of Play is Saros, House Marques next game. While not a direct sequel to Returnal, fans can expect the same addicting roguelike gameplay from Saros. The gameplay trailer showed off more of what players can expect as well as a March 20th release date. If another Sony State of Play occurs, more gameplay will likely be shown, and fans may also see more marketing as the release date gets closer.
Other franchises have had numerous rumors about upcoming games like God of War, Uncharted, and even Bloodborne. It remains to be seen if Sony does anything for these outside of a special edition controller, but I hope we see more from these series. Ghost of Yotei feels pivotal in that it delivers the experience fans want and shows the strength of its in-house franchises. Sony’s future is full of potential, and 2026 could be one of its biggest years yet.
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