What's happened
Ubisoft's latest title, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, launched on March 20, 2025, set in 16th-century Japan. The game features two protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, but has faced backlash over historical inaccuracies and cultural insensitivity, particularly regarding the portrayal of a real shrine and the characters' backgrounds.
What's behind the headline?
Cultural Sensitivity and Historical Representation
- The game has sparked significant debate regarding its portrayal of historical events and figures, particularly the character Yasuke, an African samurai. Critics argue that the game misrepresents Japanese culture and history.
- The controversy intensified after a promotional video depicted violence in a real shrine, prompting government officials to express concerns about cultural respect.
Gameplay and Design
- Players can switch between two protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, each offering distinct gameplay styles. This duality adds depth to the experience, allowing for varied approaches to missions.
- The game's setting in feudal Japan is visually stunning, with detailed landscapes and authentic cultural elements, enhancing the immersive experience.
Future Implications
- Ubisoft's handling of the backlash may influence future game development, particularly regarding cultural representation. The company has indicated a willingness to address concerns through potential updates and patches.
What the papers say
The Guardian's Keza MacDonald highlights the game's visual beauty and engaging gameplay, stating, "Shadows makes running around and killing people more fun and interesting than it has been in many years." In contrast, the South China Morning Post reports on the backlash regarding historical inaccuracies, with lawmaker Hiroyuki Kada expressing concerns about the game's portrayal of a shrine, stating, "Graffiti on shrines is out of the question. It is nothing but an insult to the country." This juxtaposition illustrates the tension between creative expression and cultural sensitivity in gaming.
How we got here
Assassin's Creed: Shadows is the 14th installment in the franchise, which has been popular since its debut in 2007. The game explores the Sengoku period in Japan, featuring a mix of historical figures and fictional narratives, while also addressing themes of cultural representation.
Go deeper
- What are the main criticisms of Assassin's Creed: Shadows?
- How does the gameplay differ between Yasuke and Naoe?
- What updates might Ubisoft implement in response to the backlash?
Common question
-
What are the controversies surrounding Assassin's Creed: Shadows?
Ubisoft's latest release, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, has sparked significant debate since its launch on March 20, 2025. Set in 16th-century Japan, the game features a blend of historical and fictional elements, but it has faced backlash for its portrayal of cultural aspects and historical inaccuracies. This page explores the key controversies and implications of cultural sensitivity in gaming.
More on these topics
-
Ubisoft Entertainment SA is a French video game company headquartered in Montreuil with several development studios across the world.
-
Yasuke was a man of African origin who served as a kashin under the Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga.
In 1579, Yasuke arrived in Japan as a slave of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano, Visitor of Missions in the Indies, in India.
-
Assassin's Creed is an open-world action-adventure stealth video game franchise published by Ubisoft and developed mainly by its studio Ubisoft Montreal using the game engine Anvil and its more advanced derivatives.
-
Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
