PlayStation 5 exclusive to be unplayable for millions of gamers following controversy

Oof. The news isn’t being kind to PlayStation today. After a week of Xbox facing the unforgiving glares from its fans, PlayStation is now in the firing line.

Sony has not only confirmed that the PS5 is entering its “latter stage” already, but it’s also dropped another bombshell: a massive PlayStation exclusive won’t be available for millions of gamers.

We wish it wasn't true, but Sony has officially announced that Korean players won’t be able to buy both digital and physical copies of Rise of the Rōnin. The details for this decision remain guarded, thus the court of speculation is in session, with many believing the game’s director Fumuhiko Yasuda’s comments are the cause.

Don't deny yourselves the chance to watch the Rise of the Rōnin trailer to soak up the atmosphere of this stunning title

In a behind the scenes video for Rise of the Rōnin, Yasuda talks about Shōin Yoshida’s impact on Japan and his legacy.

We’re not well versed in this area of history, however, the crux of the matter is that while Yoshida is highly regarded in Japan, he still strikes a controversial figure to many Koreans. Thus, commenting on him being important in the game has, potentially, upset the apple cart, so to speak.

Many Korean gamers have already spoken out about Yoshida’s inclusion in Rise of the Rōnin, meaning the game’s exclusion from Korea isn’t all that surprising. However, it ensures a large portion of gamers will be alienated and unable to play arguably one of the biggest PS launches this year.

Having seen more of the gameplay during PlayStation’s January State of Play, we’re excited to see this Ghost of Tsushima-esque title blow us away with its stunning graphics and historically rich story. We’re just sad that so many will be denied the chance to experience it first hand.

Rise of the Rōnin will release on 22 March on PlayStation, so now is the time to treat yourself to a new console if you haven’t already.