Who is Erika Ishii? – Ghost of Yotei Actor is Already Upsetting Bigots Who Wanted Jin Sakai to Return for Sequel

In a surprising turn of events, Sucker Punch has unveiled Ghost of Yotei, the highly anticipated sequel to their 2020 hit, Ghost of Tsushima. But while fans are excited to return to the world of feudal Japan, some are less than thrilled about the game’s new female protagonist, Atsu, who will be played by none other than the talented Erika Ishii.

That’s right, folks—Jin Sakai, the stoic samurai who stole everyone’s hearts in the first game, will not be returning for the sequel. And apparently, that’s just too much for some “fans” to handle!

Introducing Erika Ishii: The New Face Behind the Mask

Erika Ishii may not be a household name just yet, but she is no stranger to the world of video games. With an impressive list of credits that includes titles like Apex Legends (Valkyrie), Destiny 2 (Ana Bray), Deathloop (Dr. Wenjie Evans), as well as the highly anticipated Dragon Age: Veilguard (Rook), Ishii has quickly established herself as a talented and versatile actor in the industry.

But it’s not just her voice acting chops that have made Ishii a rising star. As a TTRPG enthusiast, she’s also known for her work on shows like Critical Role, Dimension 20, and the audio roleplaying podcast Worlds Beyond Number. With a passion for storytelling and a knack for bringing complex characters to life, Ishii seems like the perfect fit for the role of Atsu in Ghost of Yotei.

However, it seems that some Ghost of Tsushima “fans” are less concerned with Ishii’s acting abilities and more preoccupied with the fact that she’s not, well, Jin Sakai. Sucker Punch made the official announcement on Twitter, and let’s just say the reactions were far from positive:

We are thrilled that Atsu is played by the amazing Erika Ishii!
#GhostOfYotei pic.twitter.com/lYZxM3GhYN

— Sucker Punch Productions (@SuckerPunchProd) September 24, 2024

Immediately, the cries of “Where’s Jin?!” began to flood the comments section, with some fans expressing their disappointment in the direction of the sequel:

Where’s Jin?!

— Domaik (@Domaik_) September 24, 2024

Others were even more vocal in their displeasure, suggesting that Sucker Punch had made a grave mistake in not bringing back everyone’s favorite samurai:

Not the direction we were hoping for with the sequel. Need more Jin

— Ronnie Serpico (@RonnieSerp) September 25, 2024

It’s clear that some fans are having a hard time letting go of their attachment to Jin, even going so far as to suggest that Sucker Punch has doomed the sequel by daring to introduce a new protagonist:

Literally all you needed to do to guarantee success was not this.

— No Red Text (@NoRedText) September 25, 2024

The negativity didn’t stop there, with some fans even declaring that their excitement for the game had completely evaporated upon learning of Ishii’s casting:

🙄 There goes my excitement for the game. Thanks for making another game that should’ve been good but won’t be.

— Me responding to your L’s (@MehMeh27) September 25, 2024

It’s disappointing to see such a knee-jerk reaction to what could be a fascinating new chapter in the Ghost of Tsushima story. After all, change can be a good thing, and Sucker Punch has more than earned our trust when it comes to crafting compelling narratives.

A New Era for Ghost of Tsushima

While some fans may be disappointed at the absence of Jin Sakai, it’s important to remember that Ghost of Yotei is set more than 300 years after the events of the first game. As one astute fan pointed out:

I think establishing a new protagonist and setting is a good idea. I love Jin, but his story is complete. Plus, skipping ahead a few hundred years gives us new technology, new story, politics, and factions, and doesn’t have to canonize one of the endings.

I love it!

— Impenitent Thief (@SaintGestas69) September 24, 2024

It’s a sentiment that we explored in our article just yesterday, where we argued that Jin’s story had run its course and that a new protagonist could breathe fresh life into the series. With Ghost of Yotei set to take place in 1603, there’s plenty of room for Sucker Punch to explore new themes, characters, and gameplay mechanics.

And with Erika Ishii at the helm, we have no doubt that Atsu will be a compelling and memorable protagonist in her own right. So while some fans may be upset at the change, we’re excited to see what the future holds for the Ghost of Tsushima series.

What do you think about the casting of Erika Ishii as Atsu in Ghost of Yotei? Are you excited to see a new protagonist take the reins, or do you wish Jin Sakai was returning for the sequel? Let us know in the comments below!