The controversies around Assassin’s Creed Shadows continue to grow, and this time it’s because of an official statement released by Ubisoft. The game has been in the spotlight ever since it was first revealed, and the company has now decided to offer its justification behind some choices.
While the statement is well-worded and touches on most aspects of the controversies surrounding the game’s characters, not everyone seems to be convinced. This has led other fans of the games to point to the series track record in a bid to show why this controversy holds little water.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Meant to Be a Fictional Story, Not a History Lesson
Over the years, the team has shown they put in a lot of research when building the world. Whether it was Jerusalem from the first game or the Nordic wilds from Valhalla, there was an earnest attempt at creating a realistic world. We can expect a similar approach for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, none of the games have claimed to be a faithful recreation of historic events.
Every game in the series begins with a disclaimer that states it is a “work of fiction” and has been created with the help of a diverse team. Fans have pointed out this fact in response to Ubisoft’s notice regarding the cultural and historical representation of Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
The disclaimer is pretty clear, but it hasn’t been enough to change people’s perception of AC Shadows and the inclusion of Yasuke in the narrative.
One reply states that people simply want a reason to be angry for the sake of drama rather than having substantive reasoning against a decision.
The statement is directed specifically at the Japanese fan base, as there were allegedly several comments under the game’s Japanese trailer calling out the game for misappropriating history. However, some fans believe the right move might have been to stick with a Japanese character.
Yasuke’s inclusion in the game has certainly kicked the hornet’s nest, but it does feel like the tide is shifting. While the studio will still have to field criticism regarding the game’s content, most people seem to have accepted the black samurai as part of the game.
Assassin’s Creed Fans Express Excitement for Weapon Usage
The Sengoku period was a time of great strife and conflict within Japan. Given the ever-present threat of war, a variety of weapons were developed to be used by samurai and shinobi alike. Assassin’s Creed Shadows will include many weapons, but fans want a unique method to acquire some legendary weapons, such as the perfect katana.
They have suggested including a mechanic that requires the player to track down resources to build the more advanced weaponry in the game. Previous titles in the series included hunting for resources when upgrading gear, but not for crafting it.
The shift to RPG mechanics did bring in resource farming, but it was very superficial. Players could acquire the basic materials by just exploring the world, so having dedicated hunting quests for unique resources to craft legendary weapons will be an interesting approach.
What are your thoughts on the recent statement? Let us know in the comments below!
