The NY Courthouse is one of the most iconic locations in theGhostbustersfranchise,where the Scholeri Brothers burst out of a jar of pink, ectoplasmic goo inGhostbusters 2.Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashedfeatures many iconic video game ghost types from the franchise, including Slimer, Muncher, and Terror Sentinels, in the most recent DLC update released on Jul 21, 2025.Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed2nd free DLC update players also gave players a new multiplayer map called the S.Y.C Courthouse, inspired by the iconic movie location filmed at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse in New York.
Game Rant recently interviewed Illfonic design director Jordan Mathewson and audio director Sophia Leader aboutGhostbusters: Spirits UnleashedCourthouse map and why the developers chose it for the 2nd DLC. Leader also spoke about themultiplayer video game’s sound design and how the game utilizes iconic sounds from theGhostbustersmovies.
RELATED:Why Ernie Hudson Calls Ghostbusters ‘The Most Difficult Movie’ He Ever Did
Why Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Devs Chose The S.Y.C Courthouse Multiplayer Map
When asked why the developers chose the Courthouse as the location forGhostbusters: Spirits Unleashed’s 2nd DLC, Mathewson spoke about the importance of giving players a fresh, different feel compared to theGhostbusters: Spirits Unleashedfirst DLCthat introduced the Facility level. It was also important to do something that “harkens back to classic scenes” from theGhostbustersfranchise. As Mathewson put it,
When choosing this new map location, we needed to pick a place that checked some fairly specific boxes. To start, this location must allow for a unique layout that fits our gameplay, giving players a fresh approach that differentiates its feel from other maps. It was also important that we find something that fits the vibe of where Ghostbusters would be called to on jobs.
This time around S.C.Y. Courthouse fit the bill, especially since it gave a nice clean, sturdy style compared to the previous Facility location. While not all of our locations are found in the movies, it’s always nice to do something that harkens back to classic scenes.
Although the Courthouse map doesn’t feature the Scholeri brothers, two of thebestGhostbustersmovies' ghosts, the courtroom itself does create someGhostbusters 2movie location vibes, and there are adjoining corridors and other imagined, unseen areas of the building for players to explore.
How Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Created Iconic Movie Sounds For Its Sound Design
Leader also spoke about how Illfonic created theasymmetrical multiplayer game’s sound design, including how the game made “bespoke voices” for the ghosts and classicGhostbustersmovie sounds for gear. As Leader explained,
…for some of the gear, we were lucky enough to have access to the movie sounds, so we could analyze these in isolation to either layer or replicate. It was a lot of fun picking these sounds apart and recreating them in a way that works with a game format, thinking about things like proximity, longevity, variation, and a dynamic sound mix whilst also making sure that we paid homage to these iconic sounds.
While Mathewson didn’t confirm what multiplayer maps might appear next, he added the team “are always considering multiple locations” and “multiple ghosts.” It will be interesting to see ificonic video game ghostslike the Scholeri Brothers appear as a new, potentially electrifying ghost type for players to enjoy, especially in the Courthouse map, in future free DLC updates. Whether moreGhostbustersmovie-related map locations get added alongside iconic ghost counterparts remains to be seen. More ghosts and maps could also create opportunities for iconic sound design reflecting such classic movie moments.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashedis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
