Video game adaptations have significantly improved in quality over recent years, spanning both live-action and animated formats. While titles like The Last of Us and Fallout showcase high-budget live-action successes, animated adaptations have also made their mark. Netflix’s Castlevania and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have set a high bar for animated adaptations, and now Sony and Crunchyroll are set to welcome a new addition with the announcement of a Ghost of Tsushima anime series.
Sony unveiled the project during its 2025 CES press conference in Las Vegas. The anime will adapt the critically acclaimed video game developed by Sucker Punch Productions. Created in partnership with Aniplex, the studio behind hits like Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, and Sword Art Online, the series will stream on Crunchyroll, an anime platform recently acquired by Sony. Directed by Takanobu Mizuno (Star Wars: Visions) with story composition by Gen Urobuchi (Psycho-Pass), the animation will be handled by Kamikaze Douga (Batman Ninja).
The Ghost of Tsushima game, an open-world samurai action-adventure set in feudal Japan, achieved immense success upon its PlayStation 4 debut in 2020. Subsequent releases on PlayStation 5 and PC boosted its global sales to over 13 million copies. The story follows Jin Sakai, the last surviving member of his clan, who adopts unorthodox tactics to resist the Mongol invasion of Japan in the 1200s. Fans can also look forward to a live-action adaptation directed by Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame.
The anime promises to channel the spirit of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the game’s co-op multiplayer expansion inspired by Japanese mythology. Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, expressed his excitement for the project, saying, “Having already proven the immense quality and versatility of our gaming properties across multiple successful film and television projects, we couldn’t be more excited to announce our first ever anime adaptation. Ghost of Tsushima’s rich, immersive world and its fantastical Legends mode based on Japanese mythology provide the perfect canvas for this project, and Aniplex is the perfect partner to translate Sucker Punch Productions’ hit video game into a stunning new anime series.”
Rahul Purini, president of Crunchyroll, added, “This project is a testament to the creative synergy within the Sony family, uniting the expertise of PlayStation Studios and PlayStation Productions; the creative team of Sucker Punch Productions and Aniplex; Sony Music’s iconic global artist roster; and Crunchyroll’s fan-first global marketing and distribution footprint. The Ghost of Tsushima anime will offer fans an exciting new way to experience the game in an anime style that will be bold and groundbreaking.”
Meanwhile, Sucker Punch continues to develop the game’s sequel, Ghost of Yotei, slated for a 2025 PS5 release. This anime marks the latest in PlayStation Productions’ efforts to bring gaming titles to screens, following adaptations of Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Twisted Metal, and The Last of Us. With The Last of Us Season 2 due April this year, the company shows no signs of slowing down.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
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