The Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controversy Is Quite Grim

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Obaid Ur Rehman

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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We’ve seen controversial games like Stellar Blade recently, but nothing comes close to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. There’s something to talk about nearly every day when it comes to this game.

The Japanese fandom already review bombed the trailer on YouTube, but things have continued to go south since then. Even the Japanese government has had to step in. However, this is far from the end of this controversy.

Why it matters: Ubisoft prides itself on mostly accurate depictions of historical events and traditions. However, it seems to have dropped the ball on this occasion.

The Whole Yasuke Controversy

You must already know by now that Yasuke is the reason everything started. His being black is really not the reason, as that would end up being racial discrimination. It goes way deeper.

Looking at many sources and facts, I am almost certain that Yasuke wasn’t a proper samurai, and even Ubisoft seems to agree that this subject is up for debate. I don’t remember reading much about Yasuke, the legendary black samurai, before Ubisoft featured him in its upcoming game.

I could be ignorant, but why was Wikipedia edited so many times after Ubisoft announced that he would be in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? There are tons of revisions on Wikipedia, which show that the information is being altered.

Now, Yasuke has been revealed to be involved in LGBTQ relationships. Will Wikipedia be edited once again to mention that the legendary black samurai was actually part of the LGBTQ community? Ubisoft can’t keep getting away with this.

The Japanese fandom is furious since they, as well as historians, have claimed this narrative to be a fraud. So, the people of Japan bowing to Yasuke whenever he walks by is considered rude and disrespectful by the fandom.

Ubisoft Hiding Behind Thomas Lockley

Thomas Lockley is the one behind a historical non-fiction book about Yasuke. Ubisoft has clearly mentioned that his and Matt Lewis’ work influenced the character in revealing the history.

He also showed up in a Spotify podcast with Ubisoft, but this is where things get interesting. Evidence has recently been spotted that suggests he made up facts about Yasuke from his imagination, including his status as a true samurai.

Following these accusations, Yu Hiryama, another Japanese historian, backed Lockley’s claims and said that Yasuke was indeed a samurai. However, these claims were quickly refuted by another professor.

As such, it’s clear that Yasuke wasn’t necessarily a samurai. It seems like Ubisoft picked him for this backlash on purpose. I don’t see how the studio didn’t see this coming.

Japanese people are more careful about their culture and traditions than anybody else, making this an obvious outcome.

Ubisoft Is Also Being Accused Of Stealing

Now, things couldn’t get any worse than they already are, right? They already have. Ubisoft is being accused of stealing the design of Zoro’s katana from One Piece. I am a huge fan of this anime, so I was quick to notice the uncanny similarities in the design.

The historical inaccuracies in a game are one thing, but stealing a design is something entirely different and is wrong on another level. For reference, I am talking about Sandai Kitetsu, the cursed sword wielded by Zoro.

The design is too similar for me to ignore. Not only that, but the developer has also copied the writings on the two stands, which makes it even worse. There was another controversy about stolen imagery in Assssin’s Creed Shadows.

Now, here come the double standards. Ubisoft apologized and called for a revision. However, when a customer uses something without rights, it is called piracy, right?

There have been cases where people have been put in jail, and there have been many settlements. I am not justifying their actions, but why does the billion-dollar company get a free pass?

Nevertheless, Ubisoft still expects the title to end up as one of its best-sellers, and it very well may. If there’s one positive thing to come out of this controversy, it’s the fact that this game has received unprecedented attention from the public.

The team also offered an official statement on the situation recently. It admitted that Yasuke’s status as a samurai is not agreed upon universally and then defended his inclusion by saying that Assassin’s Creed games don’t depict historical facts. However, this statement contradicts another claim Ubisoft made about this game before.

Obaid Ur Rehman

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com