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PlayStation enthusiasts and detractors seldom find common ground.

However one particular issue which has been raised by both sides.

"What happened to the games?"

Expensive, solo blockbusters from internal developers have historically been the key to PlayStation's console success.

In the PlayStation 4 period, users had a regular supply of story-rich experiences, but that has seemed more like a drip since the release of Spider-Man 2.

Yet, PlayStation's newest game – Ghost of Yōtei – signals a comeback to its established premium style.

Why Did It Take So Long?

The studio's latest project is a follow-up to 2020's feudal Japan-set adventure Ghost of Tsushima, among the final big console-exclusive games from Sony.

"Video games do take a significant period to create, so it's no small portion of your time," notes Fox.

Ghost of Yōtei transfers the action a several hundred miles to the north, to the Honshū region region, and the time period a several centuries forward, to the year 1603.

In this installment, the narrative centers on Atsu, a woman fighter on a mission to seek vengeance against the group of six – a group of warlords accountable for her kin's death.

With a earlier release to expand upon, it's far from a completely fresh start but, Fox explains, the project is nonetheless a massive effort.

Simply introducing a fresh hero, for example, requires input from scriptwriters, animation artists and concept artists, to mention only some of the roles participating.

Behind the scenes there are numerous additional team members.

A Massive Workforce Effort

While the developer has approximately 200 staff at its base near Washington, many hundreds contribute to its games.

The list of contributors for Ghost of Tsushima, for example, listed about over 1,800 people.

Some of those were from other countries, or from external companies that focus in certain specialized areas.

"Developing a video game demands various different skills, from deeply technical experts... to those who are highly focused on feelings, like our writers," says Nate.

"Plus these teams work in synchronization. It's like conducting an ensemble.

"One must have every pieces working in unison."

The creative director says that a dizzying number of factors can be part of a single moment – from soundtrack to the software that makes particles float over the screen at a crucial moment.

"Each group need to have a sense of where they're going," says Fox.

A Change in Direction

Clear leadership is a quality fans have criticized PlayStation of not having in the last few years.

Under its former leader, the former CEO, the division initiated production on a dozen live-service games, known as "ongoing" games in the industry.

Several of the most famous games, such as the popular shooter, the user-generated game and the FPS series, maintain fans hooked for extended durations and produce massive sums of money.

The company has had positive results in the area with the previous year's Helldivers II, but one disastrous failure with another game, which was discontinued just two weeks after its release.

Sony has since cancelled online projects inspired by several of its best-known series, including God of War and The Last of Us.

Targeting the online arena is a approach the company has admitted is not completely "going smoothly", but it's noted certain games with online elements, such as Gran Turismo and MLB title MLB: The Show, have performed well.

The highlights of its latest promotional stream were an upcoming game, a follow-up to the earlier Returnal, and the highly anticipated Wolverine title from superhero maker Insomniac – both single-player titles.

Discussion and Attention

Big games can frequently be magnets for debate, as the developer recently discovered when a developer's comment about the death of political activist personality the individual prompted a outcry.

The company ultimately dismissed the individual involved, and founder Brian Fleming commented that "applauding or making light of a person's death is a unacceptable for the company", when questioned about it.

A number of conservative gaming commentators have additionally criticized Ghost of Yōtei for featuring a female protagonist.

The director explains it was an "unusual selection", but key to the story the team wanted to tell of an unlikely hero defying traditional conventions.

When the game advances, the character's myth as an vengeful spirit – a wrathful spirit found in Eastern tradition – grows.

"Players believe there's no way this woman could have taken out members of the the group except if she is a mythical {creature|