Following the news about Ghost of Tsushima going gold, the ESRB has published a detailed description for the game’s “M for Mature” rating.
Ghost of Tsushima is being given the Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Partial Nudity descriptors.
The game’s content is described as follows, including mentions of weapons, decapitations, and… buttocks.
“This is an action game in which players assume the role of a samurai (Jin Sakai) on a quest for vengeance against Mongol invaders in 13th century Japan. Players traverse open-world environments, interact with characters, complete quests (e.g., assassination), and infiltrate enemy strongholds. Players use samurai swords, poisoned darts, and bows to battle enemies in melee-style combat.
Some attacks result in dismemberment and/or decapitation of enemy soldiers, often accompanied by large blood-splatter effects. Players can also perform assassination kills (e.g., neck stabbing, sword impalement) to dispatch enemies quietly.
Cutscenes depict additional acts of intense violence: a soldier lit on fire and beheaded; bound civilians lit on fire and burned at the stake; a decapitated man’s head held up towards the screen. The game also depicts a man’s exposed buttocks as he bathes in a hot spring.”
Ghost of Tsushima is developed by Sucker Punch Productions, which is mainly known for the inFAMOUS series. It has recently been slightly rescheduled to release on July 17, 2020, exclusively for PS4.
The game was originally announced in 2017 at Paris Games Week and if you want to see more, you can enjoy an extensive gameplay reveal, the previous trailer, another recent Japanese trailer, and an earlier video.