Assassin’s Creed Shadows developer Ubisoft has once again found itself in hot water over another controversy. This time, it’s about the release of some concept art for its big upcoming game.
The art, meant to be part of a limited edition bonus, caused quite a stir when fans noticed it included real-life photographs and emblems from certain organizations without permission. Thankfully, the publisher has directly acknowledged this.
Ubisoft’s Japan Apologizes for the Concept Art
Ubisoft Japan took to X to acknowledge and apologize for the mishap. Some elements like a Chinese Buddhist statue and a long-tailed monkey not native to Japan, were also found in the artwork.
It seems that the research wasn’t done properly, leading to both inaccuracies in lore and history, and unauthorized usage of such artwork.
『アサシン クリード シャドウズ』に関するお知らせ
公開済であるコンセプトアート2点に、関ケ原古戦場おもてなし連合「関ケ原鉄砲隊」の旗が無断で使用されているとのご指摘を受けております。
団体様には謝罪の機会を頂戴し、受け入れていただきました。…— Ubisoft Japan (@UBISOFT_JAPAN) July 8, 2024
According to a Reddit user who detailed the issues with the artwork, what really set people off was the flag emblem of the Sekigahara Battlefield Hospitality Union, Sekigahara Rifle Corps, being used without permission.
People speculated that the artists who worked on this might have traced images directly from Google searches, or even used AI, although this remains unconfirmed. The mistake was glaring, especially since the concept art was to be sold as a special, limited edition bonus, essentially trying to profit off of illustrations that infringed on copyrights, and were factually incorrect.
While some fans appreciated the quick response and apology, others remained skeptical about Ubisoft’s research practices and its handling of culturally sensitive material. The incident shows the importance of thorough research and hiring the right people, especially when dealing with historical and cultural elements that are rather sensitive.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Been Filled With Controversy
The reveal of Yasuke as a playable character in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has also sparked massive controversy in the past few months. Some fans criticized the decision, arguing that the developer should have chosen a fictional character of Japanese descent instead. They felt the inclusion of Yasuke was forced and inauthentic.
Ubisoft also announced a TikTok campaign inviting fans to submit their voices for NPC characters through a dubbing challenge. While the opportunity to be involved in a major game might seem appealing, many fans and voice actors have expressed concerns about this content.
They believe that this approach exploits amateur voice actors and that professional voice actors deserve fair compensation. Replacing them with unpaid fan submissions was seen as a cheap alternative for a billion-dollar company.
The Japanese gaming community had mixed reactions to the apology. Some are forgiving in the X thread, acknowledging that mistakes happen, and praising the publisher for owning up to its error. Others were less forgiving, saying that such a well-established company should have better research practices and stricter checks in place to prevent such issues.
What do you think of the latest Assasin’s Creed Shadows controversy? Let us know in the comments below.
