Sucker Punch has finally pulled back the curtain on Ghost of Yotei, the next tentpole PS5 exclusive launching later this year, on 2nd October.

This presentation was the deep dive we’ve all been waiting for, delving into the key facets of the forthcoming follow-up: exploration, combat, and personalisation.

For us, the big takeaway here is that the sequel has been designed with a player-first philosophy.

“The world of Yotei is vast,” creative director Nate Fox noted during the demo. “But it’s not about checking everything off. It’s about engaging with what excites you.”

A new clue system will allow you to get to the content you want much quicker.

As you defeat enemies, you’ll be able to interrogate them to unlock clues, in the form of playing cards. As you assemble enough of these, they’ll turn into leads, which will help guide you around the map.

Sucker Punch says it doesn’t want you to rush, but instead wants you to explore at your own pace. It noted that sometimes the best thing to do is simply wander around the world and explore the things that grab your attention.

This sense of freedom will expand to the combat system, where you’ll have dozens of different weapons to master. Some will be advantageous against different types of enemies, but it’s ultimately down to you how you want to approach each skirmish and play.

Furthermore, the type of equipment you assign to heroine Atsu will further tailor your play. And, of course, you’ll be free to unlock various different types of armour and cosmetics to further customise your look.

As a lone wolf, Atsu will sleep under the stars, but she will form bonds with other characters.

However, each time you set up camp, those allies – known as the Wolf Pack – will come to you, meaning you won’t need to keep travelling backwards and forwards to different merchants. This, according to Sucker Punch, will allow you to continue on your adventure wherever you are.

If all of that’s not enough, you’ll be able to play through the single player campaign in Japanese with full lipsync and subtitles if you like. And there’ll be various different modes inspired by a number of legendary Japanese directors.

You can get the full lowdown in the video embedded above, but we’ve compiled some additional recommended reading for you below:

• Are You Sold on Ghost of Yotei?
• Two Jaw-Dropping Limited Edition Ghost of Yotei PS5 Consoles Announced
• Ghost of Yotei Confirms Japanese Dub at Launch, Complete with Full Lip-Syncing
• Ghost of Yotei Goes Above and Beyond with New Director Modes, Even Has Lo-Fi Beats

How’s your hype holding out for Ghost of Yotei right now? Are you ready to play this game on 2nd October? Let us know in the comments section below.