‘Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut’ receives ESRB rating following reports of an upcoming standalone expansion

New content for “Ghost of Tsushima” seems to be underway after the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has rated a director’s cut of the title. This follows recent reports that Sucker Punch could be working on a standalone expansion.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has submitted a new version of the critically-acclaimed game, which the ESRB officially identified as “Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut.” Like the original title released in July 2020, it was given a Mature 17+ because it contains depictions of blood and gore, violence, language not appropriate for a younger audience, and partial nudity.

However, the listing does not say much about the changes to expect in “Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut.” The rating summary for the upcoming release contains similar descriptions as the original title. What’s different and rather interesting is that the new ESRB rating says the director’s cut will have in-game purchases on PS4 that could be hinting at the availability of microtransactions. Note that the original version does not have those. The listing also indicates players on PS4 and PS5 will be able to interact, suggesting the presence of a multiplayer mode.

It is unclear if the “Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut” is the same as the rumored standalone expansion reportedly titled “Ghost of Ikishima,” but it is one possibility. Director’s cut releases in video games are usually expanded versions of the original title with additional game modes, cutscenes, and features.

Sony and Sucker Punch have yet to announce the release of “Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut” or the rumored “Ghost of Ikishima.” But there are also indications that the latter exists aside from information from gaming insiders. Recently, Gaming Route discovered a new domain, “ghostofikishima.com” registered last week. This corresponds with Shpeshal_Nick’s report that the expansion is intended to be released as a standalone game.

It is also worth noting that Sony is widely rumored to host its next PlayStation State of Play event in early July. Some reports have even suggested that it may happen specifically on July 8. In that case, Sony should announce a showcase in the coming days. And if such a presentation is in the works, it could be the right venue for the announcement of “Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut” and “Ghost of Ikishima.”