Sony and Sucker Punch Productions are under fire once again as the newly released Ghost of Yōtei – One Thousand Blades trailer is receiving massive backlash from fans online.
Trailer Reactions
The trailer, posted to PlayStation’s official YouTube channel, has racked up 25,000 dislikes compared to just 13,000 likes. Notably, it was not shared on X, where controversy over developer comments celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk has already been raging. Update: The trailer is now on X.
RIP CHARLIE KIRK pic.twitter.com/SIdN3k4M58
— Rick (@RickSettleDown) September 17, 2025
In the comments section, fans directly tied their criticism of the game to the studio’s handling of the Kirk controversy. Many referenced honor and respect, contrasting samurai ideals with the behavior of developers who mocked Kirk’s death.
Among the top-liked comments:
- “You have no honor.” – Lord Shimura
- “RIP Charlie Kirk. I hope we can build a society where we all respect each other.”
- “It is absolutely wholesome to see the comments because we are holding Sony and SP accountable.”
- “A samurai with no honor is not a samurai.”
- “Honor and respect to Charlie Kirk. Mocking his death hurts us all.”
- “Ghouls who celebrate someone’s passing don’t deserve our money. RIP Charlie.”
- “RIP Charlie Kirk. Reject the hate from these devs.”
Growing Fallout for Sony and Sucker Punch
The backlash follows earlier controversy when Ghost of Yōtei senior character artist Drew Harrison celebrated Kirk’s assassination, which ultimately led to Harrison being fired.
Fans now appear to be using the game’s promotional rollout to voice their anger directly at Sony and Sucker Punch, accusing them of failing to address the situation adequately.
With thousands of negative votes and comments focused on Charlie Kirk, the game is facing a reputational challenge before its release on October 2nd.
Fallout Across Hollywood, Comics, and Gaming
The fallout from Charlie Kirk’s assassination has triggered widespread controversy across Hollywood, comics, and gaming. Figures such as Stark Trek’s Tim Russ, Batman actor Michael Keaton and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter Ava Raine have been criticized for their public remarks, while major companies including Bethesda, Epic Games, Blizzard, and SEGA are under fire after developers and artists mocked or celebrated Kirk’s death online.
In comics, DC canceled Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Red Hood series after her inflammatory comments drew heavy backlash. Legendary artist Alex Ross faced criticism when his X account posted and deleted a Superman image following the shooting, while Stephen King was forced to apologize after posting false claims about Kirk before promoting his new film The Long Walk.
