There's no denying that Ghost of Tsushima was insanely popular. Sucker Punch took a well-established genre, applied it to a popular yet underused setting, and created what may would call a masterpiece of a game. Now that its multiplayer expansion Legends has released and the Raid has been added to that game mode, all eyes are on Sucker Punch Productions for what it will do next. It seems as though there are three major options available at this point, as the studio could either create DLC content, develop a sequel for the new IP, or shift gears and reintroduce some older IPs.
For those that may not have realized it, Sucker Punch Productions is actually the same company that made the Sly Cooper games, a set of PS2 cult classics featuring a thieving raccoon as its protagonist. Trophy hunters will have even found an easter egg to this franchise in Ghost of Tsushima, as players can equip blue Gosaku armor, the Crooked Kama headband, and the Sly Tanuki sword kit to get the Cooper Clan Cosplayer trophy. After Sly Cooper, Sucker Punch was best known for the Infamous franchise, a series that has seen several entries in the PS3 and PS4 era.
Sucker Punch Productions - Sly Cooper 5
The Sly Cooper games are beloved by their fans, and there's a good reason for that. Sucker Punch has always been a phenomenal developer, and Ghost of Tsushima was certainly not its first rodeo. It's completely understandable for fans to want Sucker Punch to revisit the Sly Cooper franchise, especially since it has been almost eight years since Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time released for the PS3. While this would definitely be a treat to fans of the franchise, there's some important things to consider when thinking about the likelihood of this happening.
For starters, it would be foolish to say that Sucker Punch has forgotten about Sly Cooper, as the easter egg in Ghost of Tsushima is more than enough to prove that false. That said, a Ghost of Tsushima sequel would make much more sense from a marketability standpoint, as that franchise has just kicked off and is extremely popular. To put it plainly, Sucker Punch needs to strike while the iron is hot, and at the moment there's nothing hotter than Ghost of Tsushima. This doesn't mean that Sly Cooper 5 will never happen, but fans might see Ghost of Tsushima 2 before that point.
Sucker Punch Productions - Infamous 3
The other obvious option for Sucker Punch would be to make a return to its Infamous franchise, heralding in a third and likely final chapter to Cole MacGrath's journey. The first two Infamous games were met with praise and adoration for the most part, as they offered a unique premise and implemented the morality system exceedingly well for the time. Since then, Infamous has taken to exploring other characters, but fans are eager to see Cole MacGrath take center stage again and the ending of the latest game heavily implies that he's still alive.
Once again, Sucker Punch would have to weigh whether it's better to take this route or work on a Ghost of Tsushima sequel. On the one hand, Infamous is definitely a more modern and recognizable title than Sly Cooper is at this point, but it still would probably come at the expense of a Ghost of Tsushima sequel. With how successful Ghost of Tsushima was in 2020 and even still, it would definitely be a difficult choice to let that hype die out in favor of something else. Whatever its next game is will also mark its debut on the PS5.
Sucker Punch on PS5
It isn't hard to see that all three of Sucker Punch's three IPs are vastly different from one another. While this may have worked out well so far, it may be that the developer will want to build a more cohesive brand for itself. Whichever franchise it chooses to be its PS5 debut will have a major impact on this, so it's an important decision that will definitely require a lot of thought. Given the three options of Sly Cooper, Infamous, and Ghost of Tsushima, which would Sucker Punch want to be known for?
Naturally, it isn't really this black and white, and it isn't as though Sucker Punch has to choose one IP to stick with, but there is merit in choosing what it's best known for. It's highly likely that all of these IPs will eventually get PS5 sequels, but the big question on everyone's mind is which one will get it first. Both Sly Cooper and Infamous have dedicated fans that would love nothing more than to see a next generation sequel, but it's undeniable that Ghost of Tsushima has a much wider appeal overall.
Ghost of Tsushima 2
Of course, there's also the issue of figuring out what the sequel would even be about. With how Ghost of Tsushima ended, there are a couple of possibilities. After repelling the Mongol invasion, Jin rides with Lord Shimura and the two learn that there are rumors that the Ghost is planning to take the fight to the Mongols. This could work as a premise for the sequel, but Jin makes it seem as though he has no intention of doing this. Since Jin is wanted by the Shogunate of Japan, there's even potential for them to be his enemy in a sequel, but this seems even more unlikely.
Fans have to consider the possibility that there may not be a sequel, as the story really wrapped itself up quite nicely. Sucker Punch didn't cut content and include it as paid DLC, and the content it did add in the form of Legends was given out for free, so it doesn't seem like the type of developer to make a cash grab sequel. It's difficult to say what the future holds, but a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima still seems more likely than a continuation of another IP, as that might just be the best move both financially and in terms of brand image that Sucker Punch could make.
Ghost of Tsushima is available now on PS4.