Assassin’s Creed Shadows Development Team Responds to Japanese Community Concerns

Ubisoft acknowledged the concerns of the Japanese community regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The next part of the series Assassin’s Creed is set to release later this year, but ahead of its launch the development team issued a statement responding to concerns from Japanese fans.

“For many people on our team, creating Assassin’s Creed a game set in feudal Japan has been a long-cherished dream,” the post reads. “Since the announcement Assassin’s Creed ShadowsWe have received many positive responses, but also criticism, including from you, our Japanese players. We share your passion for history and deeply respect your concern for the historical and cultural integrity of your rich heritage.”

The studio explained that it made every effort to provide an “immersive and respectful portrayal of feudal Japan” by consulting with historians and researchers, but stated that it never intended to base any of the games in the series on an actual depiction of history or historical figures.

However, the company admitted that “some elements of our promotional materials caused concern among the Japanese community” and apologized, adding that the game would continue to be developed until its release.

“All gameplay footage shown so far is in development, and the game will continue to evolve until release,” the post continues. “Based on the constructive criticism we’ve received, we’ll continue our efforts until we get this game into your hands — and beyond.”

Ubisoft also responded to the ongoing wave of criticism surrounding one of Shadowsplayable characters, Yasuke.

Yasuke is based on a real historical figure, a samurai of African descent who came to Japan in 1579, lived during the Sengoku period, and served the Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga.

Yasuke’s origins have been a topic of debate since his reveal, despite experts say that in those days he was a samurai.

Ubisoft explained that it has always chosen historical characters and events and combined them with the series’ fantasy elements “to create engaging and immersive experiences” and stated that its portrayal of Yasuke in Shadows is an illustration of this.

“His unique and mysterious life made him the perfect candidate to tell the story of Assassin’s Creed against a feudal Japan backdrop,” the statement reads, while acknowledging that his portrayal of the samurai is “up for debate and discussion.”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released on November 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and PC.