The upcoming game Ghost of Yotei has found itself at the center of a massive backlash from yet another group of fans. The source of the new outrage stems from recent comments by the game’s producer, Brian Fleming, regarding the firing of former character designer Drew Harrison. In response, users on the ResetEra forum have publicly declared they will be boycotting the game, creating a complex and multi-faceted Ghost of Yotei controversy.
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Table of contents
The Producer’s Statement That Sparked the Fire
During a recent interview, Brian Fleming was asked about the termination of Drew Harrison, a former artist at Sucker Punch Productions. The issue revolved around Harrison’s controversial social media posts concerning “the death of political activist Charlie Kirk.” Fleming responded:
“The information is accurate. Drew is no longer an employee. I think, as a studio, we are aligned that celebrating or joking about the murder of an individual is a red line for us, and we condemn it completely. That is our stance and where we stand.”
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Backlash and Boycott from the Left
However, these remarks were met with a negative reaction from liberal users and left-leaning social networks. Many members of the ResetEra forum announced they would no longer be purchasing Ghost of Yotei. One user wrote:
“Well, I’m not buying your game anymore.”
Another user stated:
“Yotei is canceled from now on.”
One forum member even called for a collective boycott of the game, asserting:
“Anyone who buys this game is helping fascism.”
Amid the reactions, one user mentioned they had always played PlayStation exclusives and greatly enjoyed Ghost of Tsushima. However, due to Fleming’s statements, they have decided to pass on Ghost of Yotei. The angry responses continued, with another ResetEra member writing:
“Firing Harrison only legitimizes the trolls who are now using Ghost of Yotei as a symbol to champion Charlie and fight against ‘woke culture.'”
Caught Between Two Fires
In any case, Ghost of Yotei now has critics on both fronts. The full Ghost of Yotei controversy began when supporters of Charlie Kirk and his ideology boycotted the title because the main character has been described as a member of Antifa and a supporter of certain movements. Now, Kirk’s opponents are saying they will not buy the title because of the Sucker Punch director’s statement.
Despite this, the game has secured the number one spot for pre-orders on the PlayStation Store.
Related: Ghost of Yōtei Revenge Trailer Unleashes Atsu’s Bloody Quest
Conclusion
Ghost of Yotei is in a unique and challenging position, facing boycotts from opposite ends of the political spectrum. The studio’s attempt to take a moral stance on one issue has inadvertently angered another group of potential players. Despite the widespread online outrage, its top pre-order rank suggests that the controversy may not be impacting its commercial success as much as the online discourse would suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The game faces two separate boycotts: one from supporters of Charlie Kirk due to the protagonist’s alleged political leanings, and another from Kirk’s opponents following the producer’s statement about a fired employee.
Producer Brian Fleming condemned celebrating or joking about murder, confirming this was the “red line” that led to the firing of a former employee. This statement caused backlash on forums like ResetEra.
Drew Harrison is the former character designer from Sucker Punch Productions who was fired for making controversial social media posts, which became a catalyst for the controversy.
Despite the boycotts, Ghost of Yotei is currently the #1 pre-ordered game on the PlayStation Store, indicating strong commercial interest.
