Sony Claims Ghost of Yotei Outsold Ghost of Tsushima – But is That Units Sold or Revenue?

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During an online presentation, Sony CFO Lin Tao revealed that Ghost of Yōtei had stronger sales in its first three months compared to Ghost of Tsushima. She also stated that these sales were a major factor in the company’s recent financial performance.

Although this is positive for investors, some experts point out that Yōtei’s higher price tag might have actually increased its overall revenue, even with fewer copies sold. This is especially surprising considering the game faced a lot of criticism and controversy before it came out.

Her claims don’t seem to match previous sales data, which makes people wonder what she meant by saying something “sold better.”

Controversial Development and Backlash

The sequel, set 300 years after the story of Tsushima, introduced a female lead and a new setting. Initial sales of Yōtei were slow, possibly because players were hesitant and waited for reviews, worried the game wouldn’t live up to expectations or would focus on unwanted themes. Many fans were disappointed by the major departures from what they hoped would be a strong series.

The game’s development was also marked by controversy. Drew Harrison, a developer on the project, faced significant backlash online after making insensitive comments about the murder of Charlie Kirk. She was fired as a result, but this created further negative publicity for a game that was already struggling to gain acceptance among fans.

Early sales figures did not look good.

Sales Figures, Pricing, and Corporate Messaging

Sales for Ghost of Yōtei didn’t perform as well as Ghost of Tsushima during their initial release. Ghost of Tsushima sold 3.8 million copies in its first month, while Ghost of Yōtei sold 3.3 million copies in its first 32 days, as reported by Gematsu. After the Black Friday sales period, Yōtei‘s sales were 20% lower than Tsushima‘s after a comparable amount of time.

The recent sales increase for Yōtei after the holidays might appear like a surprising success. However, IGN points out that Tao’s statement is a little unclear. She said Ghost of Yōtei sold more than Ghost of Tsushima during a specific time frame, but she didn’t specify how long that time frame was.

Interestingly, Tao highlighted “sales” revenue rather than the number of games sold. While Tsushima launched at $60, Yōtei costs $70. Even though Yōtei sold fewer copies, the $10 difference in price, when multiplied across millions of sales, could have significantly impacted revenue. Focusing on higher revenue, even with fewer units sold, is a logical strategy for a Chief Financial Officer.

The Bottom Line

In the end, Tao’s statements focus solely on profits. It’s still unclear if the game is attracting more players than initially predicted, as Sony hasn’t released sales data. A closer look suggests that Yōtei hasn’t actually become more popular than Tsushima, despite how Sony has presented it.

Following some problems, weak sales, and a slowdown in progress, Sony really needed Yōtei to appear successful – not to players or reviewers, but to those who owned stock in the company. While customers can still discuss how good the games are, the key concern for Sony and its investors has now been addressed.

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2026-02-06 15:56