Ghost of Yotei’s Erika Ishii Describes Their Ideal Game Studio

In a recent interview with Game Rant, Ghost of Yotei‘s Erika Ishii shared their ideal vision for a video game development studio, taking some inspiration from the way Dropout manages both its workers and its content. Ghost of Yotei was originally released on October 2, 2025, and is currently available on PlayStation 5 as an exclusive title. Erika Ishii, who portrayed the main character Atsu in Sucker Punch’s follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, was nominated for Best Performance at The Game Awards in 2025.

In addition to their work in video games, Erika Ishii has frequently appeared on the comedy streaming service Dropout, which was created by the people who were behind CollegeHumor. Dropout has managed to carve out its own space on the internet, delivering quality comedy content that’s always evolving. Shows like Dimension 20 and Game Changer have proven to be massively successful, as they oftentimes showcase absurd moments where participants have to react to situations in real time. For instance, Game Changer takes inspiration from some classic game shows, but the rules change every single episode, meaning participants never truly know what they’re walking into ahead of time. Dropout’s content isn’t the only thing that makes it stand apart from other entertainment, as the company also engages in profit-sharing, something that is intended to improve the lives of its workers.

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Erika Ishii’s Ideal Game Studio Includes Profit Sharing

In a recent appearance on Game Rant’s Character Select, Erika Ishii shared their ideal vision for a modern video game development studio, taking some inspiration from their time with Dropout. Ishii was quick to declare that they are not a game developer, but said they have many talented friends who are. When discussing what their ideal studio would look like, Ishii said that “there is this sickness in the entertainment industry right now where it really has to be about profits and the bottom line and overpromising.” While Ishii didn’t call out any studios specifically, they did talk about the hardships workers encounter under current industry standards, as developers are often faced with layoffs and other consequences for any misstep a company makes. Of course, many fans already know what Erika Ishii is talking about, as several major companies have dealt with layoffs in recent years.

Ishii emphasized the need to get away from focusing solely on profits and even gave gamers a look at how Dropout approaches both its content and workers. When speaking to Game Rant about Dropout, Ishii stated that “they plan things that they enjoy doing and that are going to be good quality and that people like, and when it is successful, they share those profits with their workers.” It’s easy to see why this would be appealing for everyone involved, as such profit sharing would likely increase everyone’s personal and professional investment in the company and its content, helping to ensure that success for one means success for all. When discussing what kind of game might come out of such a studio, Ishii praised a lot of the talented folks at Dropout and said they could create “the next Stanley Parable” or something in the style of one of Telltale’s narrative adventures.

It’s worth noting that Erika Ishii declared that this wasn’t meant to be a proper pitch, as they were simply responding with some ideas at the moment. However, they said that they would be happy to help assemble such a team of talented folks if they were ever given the opportunity. While Ishii may not be a game developer themselves, they certainly have experience in the industry, as they’ve appeared in numerous titles like Destiny 2, Apex Legends, Mortal Kombat 1, Ghost of Yotei, and more. After being nominated for Best Performance at The Game Awards for 2025, many fans are hoping to see more of Erika Ishii in the future.

Systems

Released

October 2, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

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