For over two decades, Joanna Wang has helped shape the look and feel of Sucker Punch games, from the mischievous stylization of Sly Cooper 2 and 3, through the electric chaos of inFAMOUS, and into the windswept elegance of Ghost of Tsushima. Now as Production Art Director, she carries that legacy forward into Ghost of Yōtei. Her philosophy blends history, narrative, and Japanese art traditions into what she calls a “living painting” — a world that feels authentic but prioritizes emotional resonance over strict realism.

Designing Atsu: A Costume as a Story

At the heart of Ghost of Yōtei is Atsu, a mercenary driven by vengeance and transformation. For Wang, her design had to embody both the scars of her past and the journey ahead. That vision crystallized around a single piece: the sash inscribed with the names of the Yōtei Six.

“The sash was literally the first thing we designed for her — and it never changed,” Wang says. It anchors Atsu’s look, tying her revenge story to every frame of her presence on screen. The yellow of her first costume draws from the gingko tree that once sheltered her family before it was burned down. In Wang’s words, it’s “a reminder of pain and the scar in her heart that never goes away.”

Layered on top of that are details like her shamisen, a connection to her mother, and the twin-wolf motif on her katana, symbolizing her brother. Even her hat — simple, utilitarian — reflects a life lived outdoors, unprotected. Nothing about Atsu’s design is ornamental; every element carries narrative weight.

Crafting a Fictional Hokkaido for Ghost of Yōtei

While Ghost of Tsushima captured the essence of feudal Japan’s southern islands, Ghost of Yōtei transports players to Ezo (the historical name for Hokkaido) in 1603. Wang describes it as “beyond the edge of Japan — wild, untamed, and massive.”

Rather than striving for a one-to-one recreation, the art team built what Wang calls a “fictional version of Hokkaido,” balancing authenticity, narrative flow, and artistic license. Striking foliage, flowing grasslands, and aurora-lit skies emphasize beauty and emotion over rigid historical geography.

Advisors steeped in Japanese history and language once again guided the team, continuing the collaborative process established during Ghost of Tsushima. “The Ghost series is less about realism and more about unfolding the story and the emotion of a place,” Wang explains.

Armor, Story, and Collaboration

The seamless blend of art and narrative extends to armor design. Some pieces, like the Crimson Kimono, act as “revenge fabrics” soaked in symbolic meaning, while others carry deeply personal tales, like the Spider Lily armor tied to a general’s tragic past.

According to Wang, the process is collaborative from start to finish: “It’s never just one team passing things to another. We circle back again and again with narrative and concept, even after something feels finished.” This iterative approach ensures that every visual detail reinforces the emotional core of the story.

Yōtei’s Living World

Visually, Ghost of Yōtei builds on Tsushima’s painterly ambitions but pushes further. Expansive plains ripple with waves of grass. Aurora shimmers across night skies. Real-time particle effects and PS5’s expanded draw distance bring tens of thousands of assets to life on-screen without losing cohesion.

Dynamic mechanics further enrich the immersion. In Teshio Ridge, snowstorms can kill players left exposed, while stealth in Ishikari Plain can be disrupted by fire consuming tall grass. These elements not only heighten tension but make each region feel like it has its own identity — both visual and mechanical.

Haptic feedback on the DualSense controller deepens the experience: blades clash with tactile weight, winds push across fields, and even Atsu’s shamisen resonates through touch as well as sound.

The Yōtei Six: Fear, Power, and Identity

Every member of the Yōtei Six carries a design shaped by both backstory and thematic symbolism. Take the Oni — once a proud samurai, now clad in oversized armor to project fear and dominance. His red palette speaks to his thirst for power, while his cracked mask remains untouched, a stubborn relic of lost glory.

Others, like the Kitsune, embody their environments, donning heavier white fabrics to blend into snow before ambushing unsuspecting players. Wang emphasizes that such designs emerge only after multiple iterations: “We build everything on who they were before, who they are now, and what journey they’re moving toward.”

Inspirations and Minimalism

Beneath all of this lies a deep respect for traditional Japanese art. From flower arrangements to brushwork, Wang and her team draw inspiration not only from aesthetic traditions but from their philosophies. “It’s not always about adding more,” she explains. “Sometimes the strength comes from subtraction — repeating a few key elements until they strike with power.”

That minimalist sensibility ensures that every blade of grass, every stroke of color, and every architectural detail contributes to the overall atmosphere. It’s about making players feel, not just making them look.

Growth Beyond Vengeance in Ghost of Yōtei

Like its protagonist, Ghost of Yōtei is a story of transformation. Atsu begins her journey in pursuit of vengeance, but her design, her world, and her encounters hint at something deeper — growth, resilience, and discovery.

For Wang, the most rewarding part of the project has been seeing these themes carried across the entire game. “We always want players to feel like they’re living in their favorite samurai film,” she says. Through costume dyes, personal customization, and freedom of expression, every player leaves Yōtei with their own unique memory of the world.

In blending artistic vision, historical inspiration, and cutting-edge technology, Sucker Punch’s art team has once again crafted not just a setting, but a living painting. And if Tsushima was the studio’s first brushstroke, Yōtei feels like the bold canvas where they’ve truly mastered their craft.