Ubisoft’s upcoming game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has fans buzzing with excitement and speculation. Set in feudal Japan, the game promises an immersive experience in a historical setting filled with intrigue, conflict, and mystery. However, beyond the excitement, some fans have raised concerns that go beyond the choice of a Black samurai as the protagonist.
The game is scheduled to launch on November 15th, and pre-orders have already begun. The ultimate edition of the game will cost players $130, which is an absurd amount. This pricing decision has left fans furious with Ubisoft.
Bigger concerns than Black Samurai
Black Samurai Yasuke, a historical figure believed to have been of African origin, was a samurai during the 16th century in feudal Japan. He served under the warlord Nobunaga Oda and became the first-ever foreigner to be granted warrior status in Japan. He will be one of the protagonists in the game alongside Naoe, an adept shinobi Assassin from Iga Province.
The controversy among fans about Yasuke is that the game is set in Japan and the main character should have been Japanese. They believe that using Yasuke as the protagonist might be a departure from historical accuracy and cultural representation. At the same time, some fans believe that Yasuke was indeed a real samurai and played a role in Japanese history, making his inclusion valid.
While the choice of a Black samurai as a protagonist is groundbreaking, fans are more concerned about Ubisoft’s monetization practices. The gaming industry has seen a rise in microtransactions, season passes, and other ways to extract money from players.
Fans worry that the focus on profit might overshadow the game’s historical authenticity and storytelling. The game is offering 3 editions for pre-order right now: Standard Edition for $69,99, Gold Edition for $109,99 and the Ultimate Edition for $129,99.
Ubisoft’s monetization of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
With the recent surge in monetization strategies in the gaming industry in general, fans are worried that Ubisoft might prioritize profit over storytelling. Picking Yasuke, a Black Samurai, as a protagonist was a bold choice as he opened the door to discussions about representation and cultural sensitivity.
Even with the controversial choice of protagonist, Ubisoft couldn’t distract fans from pre-order editions and their prices. The ultimate edition is priced at $130 and provides additional services like 3-day early access and season pass over the $69,99 priced Standard edition.
"Maybe this is their strategy. Add in a main character for a game that’s really controversial and that way it’ll distract from the fact you’re trying to get people to spend $130 for the f**king game.”
Asmongold called out Assassin’s Creed Shadows for their pricing pic.twitter.com/Lmosrp17Vb
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) May 16, 2024
Don't let the protagonist of Assassin's Creed: Shadows distract you from the fact that Ubisoft is already selling $130 versions of the game without showing 1 second of gameplay pic.twitter.com/tLmmN2Mazr
— The Act Man (@TheActMan_YT) May 17, 2024
I’m not worried at all about the protagonist. I’m more concerned about the money they’re asking on top of that. I dont understand how for this kind of money that the physical version doesnt have the whole game on disc. Ubisoft just continues to make me want to avoid their games.
— MiamiSunryze 🌞🏝️🌊 (@MiamiSunryze) May 17, 2024
The issue is not with the lack of additional features offered with Ultimate Edition but with the price itself. Paying $130 for a game is a very excessive amount and in addition, the gameplay is not shown yet. In conclusion, the real shadow lurking over this game isn’t the samurai or culture, it’s the company’s profit margins.
