'Ghost Of Tsushima' Update Lets You Pet And Recruit Dogs
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Featured Image Credit: Sucker Punch Productions
With patch 1.1, Ghost of Tsushima players will be able to pet and recruit the dogs wandering the island with a special new item.
In the game, the protagonist Jin is guided by a number of critters from the animal kingdom over the course of his journey. First and foremost, there is his trusty horse, who is his main mode of transportation around Tsushima. Foxes will chaperone him to hidden shrines, which award him charms, a grappling hook, and sword kits. Jin also keeps his eyes on the skies, because the birds will point him in the direction of points of interest or secrets hidden on the island.
However, very soon, players will be able to scritch those big ol' fluffy dogs behind the ears, and even recruit them as allies. Sucker Punch Productions confirmed that the Charm of Canine Recruitment works in the core game and also in its upcoming multiplayer mode. This item is unlocked after completing Ghost of Tsushima and starting a New Game + playthrough, and as demonstrated here, it works like... well, a charm. The update will be released on October 16th, so there's a week for you to finish your playthrough and be ready to meet man's best friend.
The breed of dogs featured in Ghost of Tsushima are Bankhar dogs, and they were historically endemic to Mongolia. This type of dog is exceptionally ancient, and there is research that suggests that Bankhar dogs are the origin point of all livestock guardian dogs we know of today. In Mongolian culture, these dogs are regarded with high esteem, and are "of the same spirit" as humans. This is even reflected in their death rituals for the dogs: when a Bankhar dog dies, its body is placed on top of a mountain so that it is closer to the gods and spirits, and so that people do not disturb its final resting place.
This addition is part of patch 1.1, which will also see the arrival of the new multiplayer mode, Ghost Of Tsushima Legends. Boasting Story and Survival missions, the mode is inspired by "haunting and fantastical" folk tales and mythology. "Legends is an entirely new experience-it's a separate mode that doesn't follow Jin or the companions from his journey, but instead focuses on four warriors who have been built up as legends in stories told by the people of Tsushima," explained Sucker Punch Productions.
A brazenly "brutal" four player raid for Legends will go live later this year, and with this, I imagine the studio is taking a leaf out of Bungie's book with Destiny 2's cyclical community events. In any event, it's music to the ears of the game's players, as their adventure in Tsushima isn't over yet.
Topics: Ghost of Tsushima, PlayStation 4
