Ghost of Yōtei unlocks at 12:00 a.m. local time on October 2 for most of the world. The exception is the United States, where the launch is aligned to Eastern Time and rolls out earlier in the evening as you move west. Expect social feeds to light up first from New Zealand, followed by Australia and Asia, as they cross midnight ahead of everyone else.

US release times (country-wide rollout based on Eastern Time)

US time zone Local date and time
Eastern (EDT) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Central (CT) Wed, Oct 1 — 11:00 p.m.
Mountain (MT) Wed, Oct 1 — 10:00 p.m.
Pacific (PDT) Wed, Oct 1 — 9:00 p.m.

In practice, that means players on the West Coast can start three hours before midnight, while the East Coast flips at midnight.

Global release times (midnight local time)

Region Local date and time
New Zealand (NZDT) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Australia (AEDT/ACST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Japan (JST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
India (IST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
UAE (GST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
UK (BST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Central Europe (CEST) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Brazil (BRT) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m.
Canada (regional) Thu, Oct 2 — 12:00 a.m. local time

Midnight local time means access unlocks as each time zone ticks over. New Zealand goes first; regions in the Americas follow last.

Early access, pre-loads, and the day-one download

There is no early access period. All editions unlock at the listed times.

Pre-load availability has not been consistent across regions. If pre-load isn’t offered where you are, plan on starting your download when the release window opens. A day-one update is expected alongside the base install, so budget extra time if you’re jumping in right at launch.

What to expect in Ghost of Yōtei

This is a single-player action game set in a large open world, following Atsu’s hunt for the Yōtei Six, the group responsible for killing her family. Exploration is built around gathering clues from enemies and characters you meet, which point you toward new locations, targets, and abilities.

Combat leans on a broad weapon set. Atsu can swap between tools like a katana, dual swords, a spear, and a kusarigama, each with distinct move sets and upgrades. Enemies have clear strengths and weaknesses, so changing approach and gear is part of the loop as you move through varied biomes—from red-leaf forests to snowy peaks.

Platform: PS5.

Quick answers

  • Global launch date: October 2, 2025 (local midnight in most regions).
  • US unlock: aligned to Eastern Time; 12 a.m. EDT, 11 p.m. CT, 10 p.m. MT, 9 p.m. PDT.
  • Early access: none.
  • Pre-load: not guaranteed; if unavailable, downloads begin at release time.

If you want to avoid story or gameplay spoilers, be mindful of streams and social posts from early time zones. Otherwise, set a reminder for your local unlock and clear some storage—the launch window is a true midnight rollout in most of the world.