Ghost of Yotei devs "like having a clean screen" free of mini maps and yellow paint: "Why would we muck it up with all this stuff on the screen if we can figure out other ways to guide you?"

Ghost of Yotei gameplay showing Atsu sitting on her horse between bright pink cherry blossoms, looking at a distant fortification built against a mountain.

Ghost of Yotei's developers had to "figure out ways" to get players excited to explore their new open world adventure without relying heavily on overt indicators like divisive yellow paint, because they "like having a clean screen" that doesn't "muck up" their game.

Yellow paint is sometimes used in games to help guide players to things like interactive objects or climbable ledges – think of the Resident Evil 4 remake, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. However, its use tends to be a bit controversial – players don't always enjoy feeling like a game is holding their hand, and an out-of-nowhere splash of color can sometimes clash with and detract from the environment you're exploring.