August 1st is a special day in Japan. The Bon festival (also called “Obon”) is when Japanese families celebrate their ancestors. Those ancestors are said to return in spirit form to the world temporarily. Bethesda and Tango Gameworks commemorated the occasion with the Ghostwire: Tokyo Obon update. A free update to the game dated August 1, 2022, the Obon update adds a new cosmetic costume for players to wear in-game, as well as a new emote.
In its blog post on the topic, Tango Gameworks drew parallels between Ghostwire: Tokyo and Obon. Just as the game deals heavily with spirits and their impact on the living world, Obon is a time to remember and celebrate the impact of one’s ancestors on the world. The game includes areas and scenes inspired by the Obon festival, including iconic traditions such as the Bon Odori dance. The practice of Toro-nagashi, where lit lanterns are floated down a river to mourn departed souls, is also seen. The Bon Odori itself is available within Ghostwire: Tokyo already as the “Tokyo Bon dance” emote.
The Ghostwire: Tokyo Obon update adds the Jinbei costume, which is a casual kimono-style jacket and shorts outfit. Jinbei are often worn by Japanese men in the summer. The update also adds the “Japanese Sparklers” emote, which causes Akito to crouch down and admire a sparkler’s glow. The update also throws in some bug fixes, adjusting things like gliding behavior, meot volume, and some progression issues.
The Ghostwire: Tokyo Obon update goes live on August 3, 2022. The game is available on PC and PS5. Check out Siliconera’s review.
