Initially announced in September 2022 under the title Assassin’s Creed: Codename Red, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was finally unveiled last month with a flashy CGI trailer and a handful of developer interviews. The game, which is set in 16th-century Japan, places players in the shoes of two new protagonists, Nao and Yasuke.
While many are looking forward to Ubisoft’s next take on the open-world formula, there’s an alarming number of Japanese fans who are calling for the game’s cancellation for its historical accuracy. What’s more surprising is that the top supporters for the game’s cancellation aren’t even Japanese, to begin with!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Cancellation Petition Reveals a Crucial Issue
Ever since Ubisoft gave us our first look at Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the game has seen a massive amount of backlash. Many players, particularly in Japan, have expressed disappointment with the representation of their country and its culture in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
The discontent among the Japanese has now formalized into a petition for Change.org, which demands Ubisoft abandon the game and move on.
So far, the petition has already garnered over 30,000 signatories, with over 13,000 signing within the last 24 hours. While it surely has gathered momentum, the most interesting aspect is that the top supporters of the petition aren’t even Japanese gamers.
The whole case has highlighted one of the fundamental problems of the gaming industry, which is speaking on behalf of others. With gamers speaking on behalf of Japanese players, it’s leading to misrepresentation and perpetuation of stereotypes. It undermines the authenticity and lived experiences of Japanese culture itself.
Getting offended on behalf of Japanese people is denying them the opportunity to share their own perspectives and what they feel Ubisoft has gotten wrong about Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ lore. Instead of hijacking such a petition, we must allow authentic representation by the Japanese themselves, so Ubisoft understands the gravity of the situation.
When is Assassins’ Creed Shadows Coming Out?
Japan has been a dream destination for Assassin’s Creed fans for ages, and at long last, Ubisoft is finally booking a trip to the east in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Despite its controversies and issues, there’s no doubt that it’s going to be a game that breaks all sorts of records.
Ubisoft has locked in a release date of November 15 for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. If you’re subscribed to Ubisoft+ Premium, you’ll have access to the Ultimate Edition of the game right from November 12, three days ahead of its official release.
The game is all set to release for PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Mac, and PC. Starting with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft will develop games specially for current-gen consoles.
Are you excited about the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know in the comments!
