The story of Ghost of Tsushima may not be done, as a new standalone expansion is heavily rumored for Ghost of Tsushima, supposedly titled Ghost of Ikishima. If real, it will seemingly be single-player DLC, a presumed complement to the free co-op Legends mode that was released after the game's launch in 2020. In theory, this could help pad out a somewhat quiet second half of the year for PlayStation.
That line of reasoning makes sense given that Ghost of Tsushima was a commercial hit, selling over 6.5 million copies as of March 2021. Although it was likely expected to perform quite well, it's hard to imagine Sucker Punch Productions or Sony could have anticipated the game's explosion onto the gaming scene both critically and financially, which allowed the developer the studio to support the game with a multiplayer update and more. With a motion picture now in development, as well, Ghost of Tsushima is quickly becoming one of Sony's most valuable IP. If recent rumors ring true, it seems Sucker Punch is going to try to keep the series fresh in players' minds.
According to gaming insider Shpeshal_Nick (via Wccftech), a standalone expansion in the vein of Spider-Man: Miles Morales or Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is releasing for Ghost of Tsushima later this year. Nothing else is known about the presumably titled Ghost of Ikishima, but its timing could make sense for PlayStation Studios as Sucker Punch continues to develop a full sequel. Ghost of Tsushima is also rumored for PC, so it's possible that it could launch alongside this expansion, which is expected to release on PS4 and PS5.
Ikishima, also known as Iki Island, is yet another Japanese island in the Tsushima Strait, and it was also impacted by the Mongol invasion seen in the first game. It's possible this expansion could see protagonist Jin going to Ikishima to defeat straggler invaders, or perhaps there's something else that brings him there. Either way, it seems likely that such an expansion would take place in a new location close to Tsushima Island. Given it's a separate landmass, it's unlikely players would be revisiting the old map (unless part of the story takes place there).
Should the rumor pan out an an announcement come soon, players will be excited to return to that world sooner rather than later. Ghost of Tsushima runs beautifully on PS5, and having all-new content would be a good excuse to dive back in. Of course, this is just a rumor at the time of writing, so optimists should keep their katanas sheathed until Sucker Punch gives the word. There are rumblings of a PlayStation event happening sometime this summer, though - that could be when Sony officially announces Ghost of Ikishima if it's real. Until then, it's nothing but a specter, but it's one that Ghost of Tsushima fans will no doubt be keeping an eye out for.
Source: Shpeshal_Nick (via WCCFTech)