One of the more common arguments from video game detractors is that they can be dangerous, as impressionable youths will see things in their favorite series and go out to replicate them. That’s the idea anyway, and while it’s difficult to imagine someone playing a game like Call of Duty or GTA and recreating the heinous acts we all commit in those games, it’s not difficult to imagine people thinking it’s okay to pet foxes after playing Ghost of Yotei.
Just like in Ghost of Tsushima, throughout your time with Atsu, you’ll see various red foxes. These foxes will then lead you to Fox Dens which hold Charms for Atsu to equip, and for their troubles, you can give these helpful little foxes a scritch behind the ear. They’re absolutely adorable, so why wouldn’t I want to give one a pat whenever I can?
Ghost Of Yotei’s Fox Petting Mechanic Is Worrying Hokkaido Locals
Turns out, quite a lot could go wrong from petting a red fox, especially if Ghost of Yotei gave you the impression that petting one in real life is a good idea. Shortly after Ghost of Yotei came out, and it was discovered you can pet red foxes, locals from the Japanese region of Hokkaido immediately began expressing concern on social media (thanks Automaton), with some worried that the game could see more foreigners potentially risk their lives trying to pet a fox.
While you shouldn’t really be petting wild animals in general, Hokkaido’s red foxes are a special kind of deadly. That’s because you could potentially run into a fox with a disease called Echinococcosis, which is a parasitic infection that can be fatal to human beings if contracted. It’s a problem the region has been dealing with for a while, as locals need to avoid dirty water sources and fox droppings to avoid accidentally catching the infection.
For obvious reasons, petting a red fox in Hokkaido is considered incredibly stupid, and while officials have been working to minimize the disease, it’s still a public health concern. You can now understand why people in Hokkaido are a bit antsy about Sucker Punch potentially normalizing petting them.
Systems
Released
October 2, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment
AloJapan.com