Since more details about Assassin’s Creed Shadows were revealed at this year’s Ubisoft Forward, the upcoming open-world game has been embroiled in controversy following a series of accusations regarding the historical inaccuracy of the character Yasuke, and other accusations from conservative individuals on social media.
Among so many criticisms, there is the publication of Elon Musk (owner of the social network X, Tesla and SpaceX), who wrote on the alleged forced injection of diversity, equity and inclusion into the game.
Ubisoft has therefore published a letter addressed to the “Japanese community” to address what it calls “concerns” surrounding “some elements in our promotional materials” for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Assassin’s Creed has always strived to draw inspiration from history rather than faithfully represent it.
“Since the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we have received a lot of positive feedback, but also some criticism, including from you, our Japanese players,” he says. “We share your passion for history and deeply respect your care for the historical and cultural integrity of your rich legacy.
“Our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as true representations of history or historical figures. Instead, our goal is to spark curiosity and encourage players to explore and learn more about the historical setting we draw inspiration from.”
Ubisoft responds to criticism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows protagonist
Now, responding to the criticism, they say the following: “We recognize that some elements of our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community. For this, we sincerely apologize.”
“We also want to clarify that while we have been consulting with many people throughout the development process, they are in no way responsible for the decisions made by the creative teams in the interest of gameplay and entertainment.”
As for Yasuke, a historical figure whose story is ambiguous, Ubisoft mentions that his “unique and mysterious” life made him an ideal candidate to tell an Assassin’s Creed story set in feudal Japan.
“While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in the game, we recognise that this is a topic of debate and discussion,” he says. “We’ve carefully woven this into our narrative, and with our other main character, the Japanese shinobi Naoe, being equally important in the game, our dual protagonists provide players with different playstyles.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches November 15 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac, and Amazon Luna.
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2024-07-26 20:29:58
