Ubisoft defends Assassin’s Creed Shadows amidst ‘authenticity’ row
Ubisoft has finally spoken out about the controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows and defended the use of the historical figure known as Yasuke.
23rd Jul 2024 11:27
Images via Ubisoft
Ubisoft defends Assassin’s Creed Shadows amidst ‘authenticity’ row
Ubisoft has finally spoken out about the controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows and defended the use of the historical figure known as Yasuke.
23rd Jul 2024 11:27
Images via Ubisoft
We're no stranger to controversial game releases, but while headlines were once taken up by the likes of GTA or Call of Duty's "No Russian", an unlikely contender is coming for the crown in 2024. Assassin's Creed Shadows is once again facing the wrath of angry gamers due to its depiction of a black samurai.
It seems that it was a complaint that wasn't going away, and after every trailer, gameplay showcase, or even tweet about the game is flooded with angry responses, Ubisoft has been forced to speak out. For those expecting things to change, the gaming giant is sticking to its guns. Sorry, its samurai swords.
Ubisoft defends the use of Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows
As a brief reminder, Assassin's Creed Shadows lets you play as two distinct characters. Unlike 2020's Valhalla letting you pick either the male or female form of Eivor, Shadows has the female Naoe and male Yasuke - both with very different fighting styles. The problem is that the team has been lambasted for using Yasuke instead of a typical samurai of Japanese descent.
The most extreme critics have branded Shadows as 'racist', while others have called for a delay until the issue is addressed. With the game due for release on November 15, we knew removing Yasuke was likely never going to be an option, but now, Ubisoft has clarified its stance on the situation.
In a lengthy post, Ubisoft defended the use of Yasuke and said it has "put significant effort into ensuring an immersive and respectful representation of Feudal Japan." Reiterating that the franchise's intention has never been to deliver "factual representations" of history or historical figures, the aim is to "spark curiosity and encourage players to explore and learn more about the historical settings we get inspired by."
Although having worked with external consultants, historians, researchers, and internal teams at Ubisoft Japan, the statement admits, "We acknowledge that some elements in our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community." Ubisoft sincerely apologises but goes on to say it won't be removing Yasuke.
"While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in Assassin's Creed Shadows, we acknowledge that this is a matter of debate and discussion," says Ubisoft. "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."
The statement asks those who are angry at these decisions to not take it out on collaborators (both internal and external). Despite saying the game will continue to evolve based on feedback up until launch, the statement is already facing all the expected backlash online.
While players have long asked for an Assassin's Creed game based in Feudal Japan, and Ubisoft says it's been just as hyped to visit this period of history, an unfortunate cloud of controversy hangs over Shadows. Will this affect the game's sales and reviews? Find out later this year.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
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