When Ghost of Tsushima celebrated its second anniversary in 2022, Sucker Punch Productions did more than thank fans. The studio released a set of infographics that revealed how players had spent their time on Tsushima, and one statistic instantly became legendary: 75.18 million foxes had been pet. By 2026, six years after the game's original launch, that number still feels like the purest summary of its appeal. Yes, Ghost of Tsushima is a brutal samurai epic about liberating an island from Khotun Khan and his Mongol horde. But it is also a game where a warrior can stop mid-mission, crouch beside a fox, and receive a tiny moment of peace before returning to bloodshed.
The second-anniversary infographics painted a broader picture. Almost 10 million copies had been sold—9.73 million, to be precise. Players had completed 91.4 million missions in Legends Mode, the multiplayer mode that many considered underrated. They had triggered 998.5 million Standoffs and fought through 40.8 million Duels. They had visited 94.76 million hot springs, spent 6,437.4 years on horseback, and taken more than 78 million photographs. The numbers were absurd, beautiful, and deeply human.
| Statistic | Total by the second anniversary |
|---|---|
| Copies sold | 9.73 million |
| Legends Mode missions | 91.4 million |
| Standoffs | 998.5 million |
| Duels | 40.8 million |
| Hot springs visited | 94.76 million |
| Time spent on horseback | 6,437.4 years |
| Photos taken | 78 million+ |
| Foxes pet | 75.18 million |
Why did the fox statistic resonate so strongly? Partly because the foxes were adorable. They were good-boy messengers of the Gods, and they would lead Jin to Inari Shrines. Those shrines increased his Resolve, which in turn allowed him to survive longer and chop down more Mongols. The loop was simple: see fox, follow fox, pet fox, become stronger. But the emotional reward was not simple at all. It was a reminder that Tsushima was not only a battlefield. It was a living world with small creatures that trusted the player.
The game even included a side mission where Jin had to avenge foxes slain by the Mongols. For many players, that mission was personal. After petting dozens or hundreds of foxes, the sight of a dead one was enough to provoke genuine anger. Who would harm such harmless creatures? What kind of invader would turn a sacred messenger into a trophy? The answer, in the game's story, was the Mongols. But the mission also revealed something about the player: after hours of exploration, the foxes had become companions, not collectibles.
By 2026, the conversation around Ghost of Tsushima has evolved. Sucker Punch clarified years ago that it had no plans to revive the Sly Cooper or Infamous series at that moment. A job listing for combat and mission designers on an unannounced open-world stealth game fueled speculation about what would come next. Fans wondered whether the studio would return to Tsushima, build a new historical open world, or surprise everyone with something else. The second-anniversary stats remain a time capsule from a period when the game's community was still growing, still discovering, and still petting every fox in sight.
That is the strange magic of Ghost of Tsushima. It can be measured in millions of copies, millions of missions, and millions of photographs. It can be praised for its combat, its wind-guided exploration, and its cinematic duels. But ask many players what they remember most, and they will mention a small fox leading them through the woods. They will remember the sound of paws, the flick of a tail, and the quiet prompt to pet. They will remember that, even as the Ghost did terrible things to save Tsushima, he never stopped being kind to its smallest inhabitants.
In 2026, 75.18 million foxes pet is more than a statistic. It is a promise that players will always find moments of gentleness inside even the bloodiest adventures. And if Sucker Punch ever returns to that world, one question will hang in the air: how many more foxes will be waiting to be pet? 🦊
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