Ghost of Yotei Developer Fired After Controversial Social Media Post About Charlie Kirk's Death

Ghost of Yotei

Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed that Drew Harrison, a senior developer at Ghost of Yotei studio Sucker Punch Productions, is no longer with the company following a social media post referencing the recent assassination of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk.

The Post and Immediate Fallout

The controversy began when Harrison, a nearly decade-long veteran at Sucker Punch, posted a joke on social media shortly after news broke of Kirk’s death at a Utah Valley University event. Harrison wrote, “I hope the shooter’s name is Mario so that Luigi knows his bro got his back.”

The comment quickly drew attention after former Blizzard producer and outspoken anti-DEI critic Mark “Grummz” Kern shared a screenshot, framing it as a celebration of Kirk’s death. Kern wrote, “Suckerpunch Senior Dev celebrates Charlie Kirk’s death. Ghost of Yotei is dead to me now.” Others in the online community echoed the outrage, with one streamer responding, “The studio deserves to go under.”

Harrison's post and repost on Bluesky

Within hours, Harrison reported receiving harassing messages and missed calls, claiming that people were contacting her employer in an effort to have her fired. Less than 24 hours later, she was fired.

In a statement to Kotaku, Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed Harrison’s dismissal but offered no additional comment. The company said only: “Drew Harrison is no longer an employee of Sucker Punch Productions.”

Harrison, for her part, remained defiant. In a follow-up post, she wrote, “If standing up against fascism is what cost me my dream job I held for 10 years, I would do it again 100x stronger.”

This incident adds to a string of recent controversies surrounding Sucker Punch and its upcoming PS5 exclusive Ghost of Yotei. The game has already faced online backlash since its reveal, largely due to the decision to feature a female protagonist named Atsu, portrayed by voice actor Erika Ishii.

Many critics argue that a female lead in a feudal Japan setting is historically inaccurate, as samurai were predominantly male. Others label it "woke" or DEI-driven (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), accusing the game of prioritizing modern politics over authenticity. The character's design has also been called "uglified" or unappealing.

Ishii, who voices and provides motion capture for Atsu, is a progressive activist critical of police and supportive of LGBTQ+ causes. Critics claim her involvement injects "woke chaos" or "anti-conservative" bias into the game.

Concerns have also extended to the writing team. Lead writers John Dumbarow and Courtney Woods, previously involved with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Mass Effect: Andromeda, have been accused by some players of favoring “identity politics” over strong storytelling. This history has led certain fans to worry that Yōtei may follow the same path.

Sony, for its part, has remained largely silent throughout these debates, seemingly preferring to avoid escalating the situation further.

Nevertheless, Ghost of Yōtei is still set to launch on October 2, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. Pre-loads will open on September 25. The game will be available in three editions: the Standard Edition for $69.99, the Digital Deluxe Edition for $79.99, and a Collector’s Edition priced at $129.99.