Ubisoft has recently addressed the Japanese community on behalf of its upcoming title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which is set in feudal Japan and follows the journey of the samurai, Yasuke, and the shinobi, Naoe.
The promotional content of the game raised concern over the depiction of certain elements in the game that hurt the sentiments of some people concerning the historical and cultural integrity of their country.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Will Keep Evolving Until Release
Ubisoft has confirmed that it will be keeping the criticism received from fans in mind before reconstructing the game further before the final release of the game in November and that its team has taken the opinions of many external consultants, historians, and industry experts.
Ubisoft urged fans to understand that it will positively accept constructive criticism, work toward making the game better without hurting anybody’s sentiments and keep the historical and cultural integrity of feudal Japan alive.
The Assassin's Creed Shadows team has a message for our Japanese community. pic.twitter.com/AIyWNU9YhG
— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) July 23, 2024
It did acknowledge that this sure is a matter of debate and discussion, as it cleared things further for them as well, which will eventually help them deliver a better final product at the end of the day.
Some sparks revolved around Yasuke’s character being an assassin despite being a part of the samurai clan; however, this was also addressed by Ubisoft.
While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we acknowledge that this is a matter of debate and discussion.
We have woven this carefully into our narrative and with our other lead character, the Japanese shinobi Naoe, who is equally important in the game, our dual protagonists provide players with different gameplay styles.
Ubisoft’s comments paint the message that it is putting all of its efforts into staying true to the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Japan is an interesting setting in the Assassin’s Creed universe and the new game looks to be hitting all the right points at the moment.
Ubisoft Will Make Sure to Make the Game Inclusive & Respectful
Ubisoft urged fans not to judge the game too soon, as it is still working on it ahead of its release on November 15, 2024. Ubisoft reminded them of what Assassin’s Creed stands for and how they have always tried to live true to their inspirations in the past.
Having said that, they also stressed the point that, at the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed is a fictional game that is inspired by historical events but does not claim to depict the moments in history as they transpired in real life.
The game is solely meant for entertainment and just helps increase the curiosity of players to explore the histories on their own.
However, our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed Games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as factual representations of history, or historical characters. Instead, we aim to spark curiosity and encourage players to explore and learn about the historical settings we get inspired by.
Ubisoft has made it clear that it does not aim to represent an actual depiction of history while also being respectful to the historical and cultural integrity of the world they tap into. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.
