It’s been a year for the Sucker Punch team (and everyone). Last July, we shipped Ghost of Tsushima while working from home. Since then, we have been overwhelmed with gratitude by the positive responses we have received from players around the world. A year later, Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut will be released on August 20. We can’t wait to share new Jin Sakai stories with all of you!
As part of Director’s Cut, you’ll be able to play a new story expansion starring Jin, set on Iki Island with new locations to discover, characters to meet, stories to complete, and Moreover.
Jin’s journey begins when he discovers that a mysterious Mongolian tribe has gained a foothold on Iki. They are led by a revered shaman called Ankhsar Khatun, known to his followers as “the Eagle”. Both khatun and shaman, she is not only a conqueror of nations, but a shepherdess of souls. And the danger she presents to Jin and his people is unlike any they have faced.
The only way to counter this threat is for Jin to return to Iki Island. He’s been there once before. And as he confronts a dangerous new foe, he will be forced to face old fears and unearth deeply buried traumas. As you explore a new island and fight new threats, you will also delve into the dark past of the Sakai clan …
Our semi-fictional version of Iki Island offers a stark contrast to Tsushima. It is a wild and lawless land of looters and criminals, marked by memories of war, and fiercely independent; the samurai have not controlled it for decades. As skillful as he is, Jin cannot take on the Mongols alone. He will have to work with or around a coterie of disreputable characters to lead the fight against the Eagle. The cost of failure is too high. If the Eagle and his tribe subdue Iki and muster the support of his people, Tsushima and the rest of Japan will be in grave danger.
The stories you find on Tsushima are filled with action and adventure. It is the same for the island of Iki. In the fight to save Iki, Jin will encounter pirates and smugglers, mad monks and haunted caves. There will be new legends to hear and new techniques to learn. Jin will have to put all his skills to work to defeat this new enemy.
We will also continue to tell intimate, emotional and personal stories. Stories about real people struggling to let go of their old hatreds and survive in times of war. Stories about what it feels like to be caught between preserving cherished beliefs and defending your home. What it means to be Lord Sakai… and what it means to be the ghost.
With everything that happened over the past year, it’s no coincidence that we also wanted to tell a healing story… and we thought that would pose a unique and irresistible challenge for Jin. We all suffer from injuries, from the humblest farmer to the most powerful jito. The wounds of the past that we carry with us. And the problem with an injury is that you can’t fight it, or go around it quietly. Ghost weapons and samurai techniques won’t help you. A wound can only be healed.
The Iki Island Story Expansion will be available as part of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut. You can pre-order now for $ 69.99 USD / $ 79.99 / £ 69.99 on PS5 and $ 59.99 USD / $ 69.99 / £ 59.99 on PS4, or if you already own Ghost of Tsushima on PS4, you can pre-order an upgrade to Director’s Cut. on PS4 for $ 19.99 USD / $ 19.99 / £ 15.99.
We are delighted that you can once again experience our world through the eyes of Jin Sakai! It has been a joy and a privilege to write for such a talented cast… some will recognize you, and some will surprise you (and maybe both). There is so much more to say, which we are excited to share ahead of our launch on August 20.
And when you join us on Iki Island, keep in mind the advice of a wise woman named Yuriko: “The strength we need is all around us.
Looking at my team and what we have accomplished during this difficult year, I think she is right. And I think Jin Sakai would agree.
