Ghost of Yotei Keeps Same Budget as Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Yotei is set to release in early October, and according to new reports, Sucker Punch Productions has managed to develop the highly anticipated sequel on a budget similar to its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. This decision stands out in an industry where sequel budgets often skyrocket.

Ghost of Yotei and its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima (Credit: Sucker Punch Productions)

A Consistent Approach to Development

In a recent interview with Game File (via Tech4Gamers), Sucker Punch co-founder Brian Fleming revealed that Ghost of Yotei had a nearly identical development process compared to Ghost of Tsushima.

He explained that when looking at the “financials and the costs, the man-years, the amount of months that the team—times the size of the team—worked on it, [it’s] very, very similar, actually.”

Ghost of Tsushima’s budget was around $60 million, as confirmed through Sony’s legal documents during the Microsoft–Activision court proceedings. By contrast, many PlayStation sequels in recent years have seen their budgets balloon by over 200%. Fleming’s comments suggest Ghost of Yotei avoided that trend.

PlayStation’s Sequel Budget Problem

Sony’s first-party studios are known for raising the stakes with sequels, but that usually comes with a price.

For instance, Marvel’s Spider-Man was built on a budget of roughly $90 million, while Spider-Man 2 reportedly cost an eye-watering $300 million.

Horizon Zero Dawn cost around $60 million, while Horizon Forbidden West jumped to over $200 million.

The Last of Us is perhaps the most extreme example: Part I reportedly cost just $20 million, but Part II was closer to $240 million.

In this context, keeping Ghost of Yotei at or near Ghost of Tsushima’s $60 million budget is a major departure from PlayStation’s usual strategy. It signals a potential shift in how Sony evaluates risk in big-budget single-player games.

Ghost of Yotei launches on October 2, 2025, and expectations are already high following the success of Ghost of Tsushima, which sold over 10 million copies and became one of PlayStation’s most beloved exclusives.

If Ghost of Yotei succeeds both critically and commercially, it could set a precedent for other studios under PlayStation’s umbrella.