Atsu Was The Perfect Fit For Japanese Folklore, Says Ghost of Yotei Dev on Choosing A Female Lead

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Atsu Will Tell A Tale of Vengeance!

Story Highlight
  • The Ghost of Yotei creatives say they chose a female lead because it best aligned with a famous Japanese folklore.
  • Onryō refers to a type of vengeance tale told by females in Japanese folklore.
  • Additionally, the creatives wanted to tell a new story with a sequel, this time from the perspective of an underdog.

Ever since its unveiling, Ghost of Yotei has been the target of controversy among gamers due to its portrayal of a female lead. Fans expected a continuation of Jin’s story, but the developers delivered a completely new experience set 300 years after the first game.

With just a few months till launch, more details are beginning to surface. The creative team behind Ghost of Yotei recently discussed their decision to introduce a female lead, stating that it was the best approach for a story rooted in Japanese folklore.

Why it matters: Ghost of Yotei aims to authentically portray the rich history of Feudal Japan through perspectives and folklore rarely explored in games. With Atsu as the lead, the game will meaningfully delve deeper into these untold stories.

Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei Releases October 2nd, 2025.

In a new interview with Variety, Jason Connell and Nate Fox, co-creators behind Ghost of Yotei, responded to the common misconception that the sequel was headed into woke territory by choosing a female lead.

They said it was a creative decision, and they wanted to spotlight an underdog for the sequel, especially after the first game featured a Samurai protagonist from a noble family. The developers wanted to try new things, and it was only right for them to take a different approach with the sequel.

Ghost Of Yotei
Sucker Punch Studios Aim To Continue Innovating Rather Than Chasing Trends

They additionally stated that Atsu, the lead, will adopt the name “The Onryō” later in the game. Onryō translates to “vengeful spirit” in Japanese.

Japanese folklore typically refers to Onryō as revenge stories involving females, which is a fitting description for the Ghost of Yotei. Additionally, the creatives aimed to make the female lead powerful, a scenario that nobody would have expected within the game’s world.

In the future, gamers can expect similar new stories set within the Feudal Japan, with Sucker Punch exploring more origin stories similar to that of Atsu and Jin.

What are your thoughts on Atsu as Ghost of Yotei’s lead? Let us know in the comments below or on the Tech4Gamers forum.

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