Sucker Punch Productions used physical coins from Ghost of Yotei’s Collector’s Edition to test rules for the PvP coin-flicking game Zeni Hajiki in the title’s new free multiplayer mode. Senior staff designer Darren Bridges explained the efficient prototyping process to Kotaku. The studio added the Legends co-op mode to fill downtime between missions.
Sucker Punch senior staff designer and Legends lead Darren Bridges revealed that the team playtested PvP rules for Zeni Hajiki using real coins on a real table. This approach allowed quick validation without coding. “Ghost of Yotei’s Collector’s Edition includes a bag of coins that are made for playing the game, so it was probably the most efficient prototyping experience in the company’s history,” Bridges said to Kotaku. Fan enthusiasm for the single-player coin-flicking mini-game after launch solidified its inclusion in the multiplayer lobby alongside activities like bamboo chopping. The Legends mode, a free DLC with no microtransactions, builds on the studio’s experience with Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. Sucker Punch started development early, using a core team that grew as main campaign work wrapped up. Combat remains PvE-focused, ruling out player duels in the lobby, which was designed for downtime between co-op missions against massive foes from the Yōtei Six. Legends features a mythologically inspired setting with fantastical elements, contrasting the grounded single-player world. “We all love the beauty in the grounded world of Yotei, but it’s creatively refreshing for the designers and artists to tackle the Legends locations and characters,” Bridges noted. Sony and Sucker Punch declined comment on future multiplayer plans.