The fallout around Ghost of Yōtei continues, this time on the sales front.
According to a leaked sales breakdown shared by former Blizzard developer Mark Kern (Grummz) on X, Sony’s Ghost of Yōtei has failed to outperform its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, despite the hype and elevated price point.
Kern posted that Yōtei sold 650,000 fewer copies than Tsushima in the same 30-day window — roughly 16% less — and that early momentum has already flattened.
“While the game is profitable, and by no means a failure, it’s a disappointment for a sequel to a sleeper hit game. Sequels to first hits are expected to do more than the first, not less.”
He added that Ghost of Tsushima enjoyed a second wind thanks to strong word-of-mouth, while Yōtei is “unlikely to have the same.”
Higher Price, Lower Impact
Despite lower sales, Ghost of Yōtei reportedly made slightly more revenue due to its higher price, but that hasn’t softened industry expectations.
According to the leak, Sony and Sucker Punch view the results as underwhelming enough that a third entry may be paused:
“This is probably why Sucker Punch has publicly said they may skip doing a 3rd game for now.”
“SmashJT Was Right”
Kern credited gaming YouTuber SmashJT — one of the first to claim the game struggled due to backlash surrounding developer behavior online — saying the sales data proved his prediction correct.
While Kern refused to identify the source of the sales leak, he stated confidence in its accuracy:
“This is a leak… I have very good numbers. I believe, long term, these numbers will eventually be published and proved correct.”
Fan Backlash Continues
The sales controversy comes after weeks of backlash toward the studio following developers’ public reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which sparked calls for boycotts across gaming communities.
Fans have continued hammering the studio across X, Reddit, and YouTube, arguing player sentiment played a role in Yōtei’s weaker performance.
What This Means Going Forward
Ghost of Tsushima launched to strong reviews, long-tail sales, and a passionate player base, ultimately becoming a breakout hit for PlayStation.
Yōtei, despite strong visuals and marketing, hasn’t generated the same cultural moment or legs. Whether the franchise can recover or pivot remains unclear, especially with a potential third entry on hold.
