Ghost of Yōtei’s Growth Costs Mirror ghost of Tsushima, Despite Industry Trends
LONDON – The upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Ghost of Yōtei, appears to have maintained a surprisingly similar development budget to its spiritual predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, bucking a recent trend of escalating costs for major Sony titles. According to comments made by Sony Interactive Entertainment’s head of PlayStation Studios, Hermen Hulst, the financial investment in Ghost of Yōtei, when adjusted for team size and project duration, is comparable to that of the 2020 hit.
This revelation arrives as development budgets for AAA games continue to swell, with recent Sony releases like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reportedly costing around $300 million-a critically important jump from the original’s $90 million price tag. Rumors surrounding the development of Concord suggest an even higher expenditure, exceeding $300 million. The relatively contained cost of Ghost of Yōtei signals a strategic approach to resource allocation, potentially prioritizing efficient development over expansive features.
Hulst explained that, “When we look at financial data and costs, to the years/man, at the number of months in which the team, multiplied by its size, worked on the project, is actually very, very similar,” indicating a focused and streamlined production process.
Ghost of Yōtei is currently slated for release on October 2, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. While no official announcements have been made, the possibility of a future PC port remains, mirroring the release strategy employed for the first Ghost of Tsushima game.
