Sucker Punch Finally Posts Ghost of Yotei Trailer to X—Dislikes Surge as Studio Remains Silent on Charlie Kirk Controversy

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Currently, the video has around 15,000 likes and 35,000 dislikes. Discussions about it on both YouTube and X are largely focused on the controversy surrounding it.

This recent development with Charlie Kirk, dubbed the “Ghost of Yotei,” has continued to dominate the conversation around the game’s marketing for several days.

The Platform Pivot

When the trailer was first released, people quickly noticed it was shared on YouTube and Bluesky, but not on X, which is usually the main place for gaming news and discussion. Some, including experienced industry commentator Mark “Grummz” Kern, believed this was deliberate – a way for Sucker Punch and Sony to avoid criticism from those who had previously reacted negatively to posts by a company representative. Eventually, the trailer did appear on X a few hours later.

The new Ghost of Yotei trailer has been posted everywhere except X.

Neither @playstation or @SuckerPunchProd have posted it, but it is on Bluesky and YouTube.

As a movie buff who also loves gaming, it feels like the folks over at X are basically telling gamers they aren’t wanted anymore, and they’re trying to just pretend everything’s okay when it’s clearly not. It’s a really frustrating situation.

They…

— Grummz (@Grummz) September 16, 2025

It’s important because *where* a company chooses to share something sends a signal. Releasing content on all platforms except X appeared as if they were trying to avoid a problem. And only posting on X after facing criticism makes it seem like they gave in to pressure.

The Numbers Weren’t Kind

After the trailer was widely shared, public reaction quickly became quantifiable. Disapproval significantly outweighed approval, with over twice as many people disliking as liking it. This clearly shows that many viewers used the trailer itself as a way to voice their dissatisfaction.

People are openly discussing the issue in the comments, with many specifically calling out Harrison and Charlie Kirk and questioning why Sony and Sucker Punch haven’t responded. Instead of talking about the game itself – the fighting, story, or graphics – the most popular comments are focused on the studio’s lack of a statement.

How We Got Here: A Quick Timeline of the Ghost of Yotei Charlie Kirk Fiasco

On Bluesky, Harrison joked about hoping the shooter’s name was Mario, referencing the Mario and Luigi video game characters, and shared a post calling Kirk a bigot who ‘died doing what he loved.’

Gamers reacted strongly and contacted Sucker Punch and PlayStation, prompting a response from Harrison who encouraged them to contact their representatives about gun control instead of reaching out to their workplaces.

Harrison announced on social media that she was leaving her job at Sucker Punch, a position she had dreamed of for ten years, because of her opposition to fascism. She stated she would make the same decision again without hesitation and updated her LinkedIn profile to reflect a departure date of September 2025.

Neither Sony nor Sucker Punch has commented on the situation or confirmed the reports publicly.

The trailer for the new game, *Ghost of Yotei*, initially launched on YouTube and Bluesky. After some complaints about the exclusive release, it was also posted to X (formerly Twitter), but the post quickly received negative responses and was overwhelmed with comments from Charlie Kirk.

Why the Silence Is Backfiring

Sometimes, what someone *doesn’t* say can be just as meaningful as what they do. When a Sucker Punch employee made an inappropriate joke about harming a politician, and the company didn’t immediately address it-especially on social media where criticism was strongest-it left a noticeable gap and allowed the situation to escalate.

Fans filled it with their own conclusions:

  • Evasion: Skipping X looked like an attempt to bury a story rather than face it.
  • Values signal: Silence on a employee’s gleeful rhetoric on a violent incident reads to some as tacit approval or corporate cowardice.
  • Brand damage: The Ghost of Tsushima goodwill that took years to build is now being repurposed as a referendum on studio culture.

Even people in the entertainment industry who usually stay out of controversial debates are wondering: if someone in a leadership position makes a joke about murder, will the company publicly condemn it and state that kind of behavior doesn’t reflect their values?

And Then There’s Ghost of Yotei Itself…

The scandal erupted at a particularly sensitive time. *Yotei* was already facing criticism for significantly changing the story-introducing a new main character hundreds of years after Jin Sakai-and for casting Erika Ishii, an outspoken activist, in the lead role. While discussions about these decisions were already ongoing, Harrison’s social media posts dramatically intensified the situation.

These days, every aspect of a game’s marketing seems to be viewed through a political lens. For example, a recent trailer focused on action and visuals ended up sparking a debate about a company’s social responsibility. This is a risky position to be in so close to the release of a major, costly game.

What Would Defuse This?

Two things could change the trajectory fast:

  1. A clear, measured statement from Sucker Punch/Sony. It doesn’t need to be performative—just an unambiguous line that celebrating violence is unacceptable and doesn’t reflect studio values.
  2. Let the work speak—without politics. A substantive gameplay/developer deep dive focused strictly on craft could help recenter the conversation.

Currently, things are going in the opposite direction. Each new post actually attracts more criticism, and the longer the company remains silent, the more people believe they’re trying to avoid taking responsibility.

Bottom Line

Publishing the trailer to X after hours of criticism didn’t reset the story—it intensified it.

Honestly, it’s really frustrating to see so much negativity surrounding the game’s marketing. It’s clear a lot of players are using every post and trailer as a way to voice their concerns, and it’s not stopping until Sucker Punch or Sony actually acknowledge what’s going on. Every time they try to promote *Ghost of Yotei*, Charlie Kirk’s name just pops up everywhere, and each new video release feels like it’s being judged on something other than the game itself. It’s become a constant battle, and we need them to address it directly.

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2025-09-17 18:59