The Director's Cut is the complete edition of Ghost of Tsushima: the original game, all of its extra content, the Iki Island story expansion and the Legends co-op mode, released on PS4 and PS5 on August 20, 2021 and on PC on May 16, 2024. On PS5 it also adds 4K resolution options targeting 60 frames per second, DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers, 3D audio, Japanese lip sync and much faster loading. Owners of the 2020 game could upgrade instead of buying it again, and the upgrade path depends on which version you already have.
We checked this against the PlayStation Blog's Director's Cut announcement and its Legends and PC follow-ups, the official PlayStation store page, Nixxes' PC page and the Fandom wiki's edition and patch pages in November 2026.
What the Director's Cut Includes
The PlayStation Blog described the edition as the original game plus all additional content sold to date, with the new Iki Island story on top. The official PlayStation page lists the full contents as follows.
- Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut: the full campaign across Tsushima's three regions.
- Iki Island expansion: a new story with new environments, armor for Jin and his horse, mini-games, techniques, enemy types and animals.
- Legends online co-op mode: Story, Survival, Raid and Rivals content for up to four players.
- A digital mini art book and director's commentary.
- One Technique Point, the Charm of Hachiman's Favor (killing enemies restores a small amount of health) and the Hero of Tsushima Skin Set.
The Hero of Tsushima items were originally part of the Digital Deluxe Edition. The armor gives a major health boost and moderate damage reduction from the start of Act 1, which makes the early game noticeably gentler. The Director's Cut also added new trophies for the Iki content on both platforms, in their own list so they do not affect the base game's Platinum.
For a closer look at the expansion itself, including how to start it and why sailing there is a point of no return, see our Iki Island guide.
What the PS5 Version Adds
The PS4 Director's Cut has the same content as the PS5 one. The differences are technical, and the PlayStation Blog listed them when the edition was announced:
- Resolution and frame rate: 4K resolution options with frame rates targeting 60 FPS. The PlayStation page describes it as a dynamic 4K resolution, and a 4K display is needed to see it.
- 3D audio: enhancements for stereo headphones, analog or USB.
- DualSense: haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the main game, Iki Island and Legends.
- Loading: drastically improved load times.
- Japanese lip sync: cutscenes in the main game and on Iki Island are lip-synced to the Japanese voice track, a PS5-only feature.
The lip sync change matters more than it sounds if you play in Japanese or use the black-and-white Kurosawa Mode, which pairs a film-grain look with the Japanese voice track. The Fandom wiki also notes that the PS4 version still runs on a PS5 through backward compatibility with faster loading and 60 fps, so the PS5 upgrade is mainly about resolution, the controller features and the lip sync.
Upgrade Paths and Prices
When it launched, the Director's Cut cost $69.99 on PS5 and $59.99 on PS4. Existing owners had three upgrade paths, as listed in the PlayStation Blog announcement.
- Original PS4 game to PS4 Director's Cut: $19.99.
- Original PS4 game to PS5 Director's Cut: $29.99.
- PS4 Director's Cut to PS5 Director's Cut: $9.99, available at any time.
Those were the 2021 launch prices, and store prices change, so check the PlayStation Store in your region before you buy. There are two catches worth knowing. The official PlayStation page says that owners of a PS4 disc copy must insert the disc into the PS5 every time they download or play the PS5 digital version, and PS4 disc owners with a PS5 Digital Edition, which has no disc drive, cannot get the discounted upgrade at all.
Your progress is not lost in the move. The PlayStation Blog confirmed that PS4 owners can transfer their save to PS5 and continue where they left off, which is useful if you want to arrive on Iki with a well-equipped Jin rather than starting over.
There is one more path for co-op players. When Legends went standalone in September 2021, the PlayStation Blog said buyers could later upgrade to the full Director's Cut for $40 on PS4 or $50 on PS5, so a standalone Legends purchase is not wasted if you decide you want the campaign too.
Free Features Every Owner Received
Not everything new was locked behind the paid edition. Alongside the Director's Cut, Sucker Punch released a free patch for all owners of the game that added:
- alternate controller layouts as an accessibility option,
- a target lock-on option for combat,
- and an option to hide Jin's quiver.
The lock-on option is the most significant of these for new players, because it gives anyone who prefers to keep the camera fixed on one enemy a way to do that in crowded fights. Combined with the Lower Intensity Combat accessibility setting added in patch 1.05, it means the game can be tuned for players who find the default parry and dodge timing demanding. Our best armor guide covers the gear side of making fights more manageable.
How the Edition Changed After Launch
The Director's Cut kept receiving updates for years after August 2021, which is worth knowing if you are reading old reviews. The Fandom wiki's patch history tracks the main milestones:
- Patch 2.04, August 19, 2021: the day-one Director's Cut update that delivered the Iki Island story, the lock-on option and the controller remapping options. The wiki also notes that the Archery Master's Attire was removed as a separate armor after this patch.
- September 3, 2021: Legends added the Rivals mode and went on sale as a standalone game.
- Patch 2.15, February 2022: a Platinum difficulty for Legends Survival.
- Patch 2.18, April 2022: among other fixes, more silk stocked by the New Game+ merchant, a small but welcome change for players upgrading armor to its fifth level.
- Patch 2.19, April 30, 2024: initial cross-play support ahead of the PC release.
- Patch 2.24, July 16, 2024: the latest version the wiki lists, after which matchmaking between PC and console players was switched on.
In practice, that means a copy bought today is the most complete version the game has ever been, with cross-platform Legends and every quality-of-life fix included. Keep it separate in your head from the sequel, Ghost of Yotei, which launched on PS5 on October 2, 2025, is set more than 300 years later and has its own Legends mode; nothing from the Director's Cut carries over to it.
The Director's Cut on PC
There is no separate original edition on PC. The Steam and Epic Games Store release, ported by Nixxes Software and launched on May 16, 2024, is the Director's Cut, so it includes Iki Island and Legends from the start.
The PC version swaps PS5 features for PC ones: unlocked frame rates, DLSS 3, FSR 3 and XeSS, ultrawide support up to 48:9, and full DualSense haptics over a wired connection. It does need a PlayStation account for Legends and the overlay, but not for the campaign. Our PC guide covers the requirements, the settings and the history of that account rule.
Is It Worth It in 2026?
For a new player, the Director's Cut is the version to get, because it is the complete game and the only edition currently sold on PC. On PlayStation, the official page also lists the Director's Cut in the PlayStation Plus Extra game catalog as of November 2026, so subscribers at that tier can play it without buying it.
For an existing PS4 owner, the decision comes down to Iki Island and hardware. Iki is a strong expansion, with HowLongToBeat players reporting about 5 hours for its story and 13 for a full completion, and it adds the Sarugami Armor, Horse Charge and new charms that carry back to Tsushima. If you also own a PS5, the PS5 Director's Cut is the version that shows those additions at their best.
A quick way to decide:
- New to the game, on PS5: buy the PS5 Director's Cut, or play it through PlayStation Plus Extra if you already subscribe.
- Original PS4 copy, now on PS5: the direct upgrade to the PS5 Director's Cut gets you Iki Island and every PS5 feature in one step, and your save comes with you.
- PS4 Director's Cut owner with a new PS5: the small PS5 upgrade is mainly for resolution, haptics and lip sync, since you already have Iki.
- PC player: there is nothing to choose; the PC release is the Director's Cut.
If you mainly want the co-op, Legends alone is enough, and you can upgrade later. Our Legends guide explains what the mode includes and how gear progression works.
Services for the PlayStation Versions
Whichever edition you settle on, the store's Ghost of Tsushima page lists modded save services for PS4 and PS5: post-tutorial saves with max rank, all stances unlocked, and max cloths, goods, metals and wood, plus a Platinum trophy service. They are applied to your own PlayStation profile, you need to own the game, and none of them apply to the PC version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the original and the Director's Cut?
The Director's Cut adds the Iki Island expansion, bundles all earlier extra content and Legends, and on PS5 adds 4K options, DualSense features, 3D audio and Japanese lip sync.
How much was the PS5 upgrade?
At launch, $29.99 from the original PS4 game or $9.99 from the PS4 Director's Cut. Check the PlayStation Store for current regional pricing.
Can I transfer my PS4 save to the PS5 Director's Cut?
Yes. Sony confirmed PS4 saves can be transferred so you continue where you left off.
Is the Director's Cut on PlayStation Plus?
As of November 2026, the official PlayStation page lists it in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog.
Is the PC version the Director's Cut?
Yes. The PC release from May 16, 2024 is the Director's Cut, with Iki Island and Legends included.
Can you buy Iki Island without the Director's Cut?
No. Iki Island is only available as part of the Director's Cut or its upgrade.