Following criticism of Assassin's Creed Shadows by Japanese players and a petition to stop the game, Ubisoft and the development team have commented on the matter in detail today.
Among other things, the criticism expressed and what the game actually wants to be are addressed.
Assassin's Creed is not a historically accurate history book
“Since the announcement of Assassin's Creed Shadows, we have received many positive reactions, but also some criticism, including from you, our Japanese players,” they say. “We share your passion for history and have great respect for how important your historical and cultural past is to you.”
First, they address the authenticity of the game. They put a lot of work into delivering an “immersive and respectful representation of feudal Japan.”
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“However, none of our Assassin's Creed games, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, were intended to be factual representations of history or historical characters. Rather, we want to arouse curiosity and encourage players to learn more about the historical settings that inspire us.”
“Assassin's Creed Shadows is designed first and foremost to be a fun video game that tells an engaging, historical story set in feudal Japan. Our team consulted extensively with external consultants, historians, researchers, and internal teams at Ubisoft Japan regarding creative decisions.”
They acknowledge that some elements in promotional materials may have caused concern within the Japanese community and apologize for this. They stress that the game is still in development and that they should not criticize the people Ubisoft worked with. Ultimately, the creative team has the final say and decides what is best for gameplay and entertainment value.
Accordingly, creative liberties are taken, as has always been the case in the series.
“Since its early days, the series has taken creative liberties and incorporated fantasy elements to create exciting and immersive experiences,” Ubisoft said. “Our game's portrayal of Yasuke is another example of this. His unique and mysterious life made him an ideal candidate to tell an Assassin's Creed story set in feudal Japan.”
“While Yasuke is portrayed as a samurai in Assassin's Creed Shadows, we also understand that this is a source of debate and discussion. We have carefully woven this into our story and with our other main character, the Japanese shinobi Naoe, who is equally important to the game, our two protagonists offer players different playstyles.”
Assassin's Creed Shadows will be released on November 15, 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.