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Behind Ghost of Yōtei: Quest design, Cinematic samurai influences & Designing around different play styles

The Australian developer Rob Davis on his role as Campaign Director of the new sequel to Ghost of Tsushima recorded live at PAX Australia.

October 22, 2025 10:00 AM

In this interview recorded at PAX Australia 2025, we sit down with Rob Davis, Campaign Director at Sucker Punch Productions, to dive deep into the making of Ghost of Yōtei, out now on PlayStation 5.

Rob shares insights into quest design & player choice and how the team shapes quests, major fights, and designs with different playstyles in mind. How new character Atsu the Onryō compares to Ghost of Tsushima protagonist Jin Sakai the Samurai in both skill and approach when traversing the world and the story telling potential of a new perspective.

We also learn about Rob's Australian development history and the path to these major PlayStation Studios: Rob’s journey from working on Ty the Tasmanian Tiger in Brisbane for Krome and eventually joining world-class teams like Sony Santa Monica Studio and now Sucker Punch.

If you’re fascinated by game design, samurai storytelling, or the evolution of PlayStation's biggest titles, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

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Ghost of Yōtei
Sucker Punch Productions
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Ghost of Yōtei

PlayStation 5
Developer:
Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher:
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date:
October 1, 2025
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