Ubisoft has finally broken their silence on the huge debate around their upcoming game Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Set in feudal Japan, the game has caused a lot of controversy, especially among fans in Japan. Most of the arguments are about how the game portrays some important figures from history and parts of Japanese culture.
One big discussion is around the character of Yasuke, a real guy from Africa who served under the powerful Japanese leader Oda Nobunaga. In the game, Yasuke is shown as a samurai. But some say that’s not entirely accurate based on what historians know about his life. Ubisoft says they did a ton of research with experts, but also wanted to leave some mystery in Yasuke’s story to make it interesting in the game.
Another issue is that the game lets you explore Japanese history, but some think Ubisoft didn’t totally grasp what it meant to be a samurai back then. They’re worried characters and events may not feel totally authentic to that time period.
This debate has gotten so loud that a member of Japan’s government even launched an investigation to take to their version of Congress. Close to 100,000 people have signed a petition begging Ubisoft to scrap the whole game. Yikes!
In response, Ubisoft said Assassin’s Creed is meant as an entertaining version of history, not a textbook. They insist they worked closely with consultants to get the small details right. Ubisoft also assured fans they’re taking criticism to heart and will tweak the game before its launch in November based on what people say.
It’ll be interesting to see if Ubisoft can find a good balance to please both critics and those excited to explore feudal Japan virtually. Only time will tell if their changes are enough to convince skeptics. This debate shows how tricky it is to bring other cultures to life in a game.
