Sony Interactive Entertainment and Team Ninja’s action role-playing game, Rise of the Ronin, will not be released in Korea.
According to an official statement issued by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Rise of the Ronin will not be released in Korea. The publisher has confirmed that the game will not be officially available in the country in any format, including both physical retail copies and digital download.
The reason behind Rise of the Ronin not being released in Korea was not specified by Sony Interactive Entertainment. However, the decision was made after online backlash against game director Fumihiko Yasuda’s comment, in which he drew parallels between Yoshida Shoin, a Japanese scholar who advocated the “Jeonghan theory” of strengthening Japan’s national power by conquering the Korean Peninsula, to Socrates.
Yasuda’s comment came during episode 1 of a Rise of the Ronin behind-the-scenes video series, in which he said that Shion is more than just a philosopher, and from the beginning of Rise of the Ronin’s development, he wanted to depict his life and teachings in the game. According to Yasuda, Shion insisted on the importance of taking action.
Rise of the Rōnin is set to release for the PlayStation 5 on March 22, 2024. It takes place in Edo during the late 19th century, depicting the Boshin War between the Tokugawa Shogunate and various anti-shogunate factions. These factions were dissatisfied with the western influence following Japan’s forced reopening after the Sakoku period.
Players can create a custom character and engage in combat using weapons commonly used during the Boshin War, including katanas and various firearms. The game offers story choices that influence the narrative, allowing players to align with or oppose different non-player characters. Players can explore historic cities such as Yokohama, Kyoto, and Edo, as well as rural areas, using various means of traversal like horses, grappling hooks, or gliders. Additionally, the game offers a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to three players.
