Ghostwire Tokyo: Prelude is a free visual novel out today on PS5 and PS4

Bethesda has released a free visual novel that tells the story of Ghostwire Tokyo.

Ghostwire Tokyo: Prelude is available now on PS5 and PS4, and will be available on PC on March 8.

The free download is set six months before the events of the main game and follows KK, a detective who is investigating mysterious phenomena and discovers that “urban legends [are] coming to life”.

According to director Kenji Kimura: “By having people experience and enjoy the events that occurred before the events in [Ghostwire Tokyo] through a different genre made by a different team, it could help open up and widen people’s interpretations of the world and universe we’ve created.”

Scenario writer Takahiro Kaji added: “There’s a different, kind of more relaxed atmosphere in the visual novel. KK is a veteran, accustomed to the situation, working within his realm of expertise and there’s good teamwork with Rinko’s group.

“By understanding KK a little better through [Prelude], the player would be able to gain more perspective and see another side to KK’s dialogue in [Ghostwire Tokyo].”

Publisher Bethesda originally planned to release Ghostwire Tokyo for PS5 and PC last year, but in the summer it was delayed to “early 2022”. The release date has since been confirmed to be March 25.

further reading

First look: Ghostwire: Tokyo has hints of Resident Evil 4

From the sharp combat to the comical merchants, Shinji Mikami’s winning formula appears to be back

In a Ghostwire Tokyo preview VGC published last month, we said the game “could be the next classic” from studio owner Shinji Mikami.

“Ghostwire Tokyo certainly feels like a unique take on horror, action and open-world,” we said.

“If we have a concern, it’s that some of the game’s map did feel a little box-checky, with players required to find various Torii gates to expand the map, Assassin’s Creed style. But ultimately this is the same concern we approach any new open-world game with.”