Summary
Ubisoft’s new release, “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,” debuted on Thursday to generally favorable reviews and impressive sales figures. However, it faced criticism from anti-“woke” groups for its narrative featuring a Black samurai and LGBTQ character choices. Additionally, the Japanese government expressed concerns regarding the violence portrayed in the game, set during feudal Japan.
“Assassin’s Creed: Shadows” was launched on Thursday. (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
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Key Highlights
“Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,” the latest addition to the acclaimed franchise, has been launched for Xbox, PlayStation, Mac, and PC platforms as of Thursday.
The game has received a warm reception from critics, boasting an 81% rating on the review aggregator Metacritic. Furthermore, Ubisoft announced that the game attracted one million players on its launch day.
Set in feudal Japan, the game features Yasuke, a Black samurai warrior inspired by a historical figure of African descent. His character faced backlash for perceived cultural inaccuracies when the trailer was released last year.
The release of the game reignited criticism against “woke” elements, particularly regarding romantic storylines that offer options for same-sex relationships.
Forbes has reached out to Ubisoft for further comments.
Japanese Government’s Response to “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows”
The launch of the game has sparked controversy in Japan over concerns regarding player interactions with real-world Japanese artifacts within the game. Hiroyuki Kada, a member of Japan’s National Diet, expressed worries in a recent legislative meeting. According to multiple sources, Kada stated that he fears such behavior could translate into real life, damaging cultural heritage. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized that vandalizing a shrine would be a significant cultural offense. Though Ishiba indicated the necessity for discussions with the culture ministry, it’s unclear if any governmental actions will follow. Ubisoft introduced a patch on the game’s release day that made objects in temples indestructible and reduced bloodshed within these locations, although they did not clarify if this was in response to governmental concerns.
Anti-“Woke” Backlash Against “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows”
There have been complaints regarding the potential inclusion of a same-sex romantic storyline. The official “Assassin’s Creed” account addressed criticisms on Thursday by reminding users of the franchise’s principle that flirting in RPGs is optional. Critics expressed concerns about a player character, Yasuke, forming a relationship with a nonbinary character named Ibuki. Some observers noted that this feature is not unprecedented, as previous “Assassin’s Creed” games allowed same-sex relationships.
Controversy Surrounding the Protagonist
Yasuke, a key character in the game, is based on a historical Black samurai whose identity has generated debate since the game’s trailer was unveiled. The developers chose Yasuke for his intriguing life story, which allows for creative storytelling. Game director Charles Benoit highlighted that the character’s non-Japanese background facilitates mutual discovery between Yasuke and the player. Critics, especially from the right, have labeled the character as a symbol of “woke” culture, including high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, who expressed disapproval in a past statement.
Response from the Japanese Community
Some Japanese gamers criticized the game’s historical portrayals, citing inaccuracies in architecture and incorrect language subtitles in promotional materials. In response, Ubisoft issued an apology to the Japanese audience, emphasizing that they had collaborated with historians while acknowledging some promotional elements may have offended the community. They clarified that the game is meant to be compelling historical fiction and not a strict historical account.
