Demand for an Assassin's Creed game set in Japan has been high, pretty much since the series debuted in 2007. While Ubisoft was weighing up whether to explore the idea, Sony's Sucker Punch Productions effectively beat the publisher to it. In 2020, fans got the stealth game set in a historical Japanese location they’d been clamoring for in the shape of Ghost of Tsushima.
While the first game in the series was successful partly because it explored a fan-favorite setting, the theoretical Ghost of Tsushima 2 could have a more challenging time standing out. That's because as a part of its plans for the franchise’s future, Ubisoft is creating a game codenamed Assassin’s Creed Red. Its Japanese backdrop looks set to subsequently create an intriguing duel between the franchises.
Assassin’s Creed Red’s Potential
As the codename title suggests, Ubisoft has been tight-lipped when it comes to Assassin’s Creed Red. What it has been willing to pull back the curtain on, though, has got fans excited. That’s because, during the game’s Ubisoft Forward 2022 trailer, an Assassin dressed in black appeared in front of a Japanese pagoda. Even without any dialogue, it’s clear from the iconography involved that the game will explore the country's feudal era.
Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Cote has revealed that the game will be a follow-up to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. As such, fans can expect to immerse themselves in an expansive RPG. Promises from the publisher that the game is a "powerful Shinobi fantasy" further underline this. On paper at least, the design philosophies that are going into Assassin’s Creed Red sound a lot like the original Ghost of Tsushima, to the point that it’s easy to imagine the game having caught Sucker Punch's attention.
Ghost of Tsushima 2’s Challenges
Even though it's unclear what Sucker Punch is currently working on, it would make sense if a Ghost of Tsushima 2 was one of the ideas on its agenda. The first game in the series was a critical and commercial success, so there’s demand and potential for more. Sony has revealed that a film adaptation is already in development, signaling the franchise’s importance to its wider future as well.
Provided that Ghost of Tsushima 2 builds on top of the first game in the series, it’s easy to imagine it sharing a lot in common with Assassin’s Creed Red. During the second Mongol invasion of Japan, Tsushima was only one of the invading army's targets. That means the sequel’s story will likely have to leave the confines of Tsushima, putting it potentially into more direct conflict with the setting of Ubisoft’s game.
Although Japan’s feudal era lasted for over 400 years, Assassin’s Creed Red will likely feel similar to Ghost of Tsushima 2 on a mechanical front as well. Beyond the obvious parallels between their open worlds, Red’s Shinobi themes mean its protagonist will probably have moves in common with Jin. The latter was essentially a proto-ninja, meaning stealth gameplay, gadgets, and bladed weapons, will appear in both games.
Ghost of Tsushima 2’s Potential
Sucker Punch wasn’t afraid to challenge the Assassin’s Creed series with the first Ghost of Tsushima, so it’s hard to imagine it backing down now. Focusing less on RPG mechanics while exploring a smaller map is just one route that a sequel could go down that would differentiate it. Competing with a beloved series will be tough, but examining the parts of Assassin’s Creed that have divided opinions could help.
Alternatively, Sucker Punch could always take the "Ghost" part of the franchise and apply it to a different country entirely. That kind of move might be similar to Ubisoft’s franchise, but it would at least make the comparisons less on the nose. No matter what route both franchises take, though, it’s easy to imagine the duel between them being an intriguing one.
Ghost of Tsushima is available for PS4 and PS5.