Ghost of Tsushima fans are donating funds to help save a Torii gate that recently collapsed because of a typhoon on the real-world island of Tsushima, Japan. Traditionally, the Torii serves as a gateway to the entrance of Shinto shrines in Japan. Unfortunately, one succumbed under the pressure of a tropical storm that struck the island this past September.
Gamers as a community regularly get a bad rap. It's hardly a surprise, though, considering the online community is too often rife with harassment and poor behavior due to the actions of a relative few. This year, in particular, has featured numerous examples of how quickly otherwise simple discourse can get out of hand, with developers, actors, and other members of the industry receiving targeted harassment far too often. Every now and then, however, these online communities come together in positive ways, sharing stories and creative endeavors or participating in acts of kindness that remind people not all gamers are bad.
Following the destruction of a Torii at Watatsumi Shrine in Tsushima, Japan following a typhoon, local shrine priest Yuichi Hirayama started a Campfire campaign (basically the Japanese equivalent of a Kickstarter) in hopes of raising enough funds to restore the sacred gate. According to a report from Famitsu translated by Twinfinite, the fundraiser started on November 27 with a goal of 5,000,000 yen (over $48,000). In the weeks since then, the Campfire campaign has surpassed its target several times over, accumulating more than 20,000,000 yen (about $190,000) in support. In updates on the campaign's page, Hirayama surprisingly shared that a lot of the donations are coming from Ghost of Tsushima fans. The organizer also attributes the fundraiser's success to "the guidance of the gods".
Ghost of Tsushima players have likely encountered their fair share of Torii gates and Shinto Shrines in exploring the gorgeous world of Sucker Punch Productions' latest action title. That some fans have taken that appreciation of a few in-game moments and turned it into kind gestures that are now impacting the real world is nothing short of heartwarming.
The story surrounding Ghost of Tsushima since its launch this summer has been rather compelling, too. Sucker Punch may not count as one of Sony's lesser known first party studios, but, before this year at least, its name rarely garnered mention in the same league as Naughty Dog or Santa Monica Studio. Apparently, that much is changing as time goes on. Thanks to its innovative Photo Mode, fun open-world, and free post-launch multiplayer release, Ghost of Tsushima continues to benefit from positive word of mouth, which no doubt contributed to the five million copies sold worldwide as of November.
Ghost of Tsushima is available now on PS5 and PS4.
Source: Famitsu, Twinfinite