Assassin's Creed Shadows: Japan's CERO Rating Leads to Content Changes
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) has received a CERO Z rating in Japan, resulting in content alterations for the Japanese release. This rating, reserved for 18+ audiences, necessitates the removal of dismemberment and decapitation, as well as modifications to depictions of wounds and severed body parts. While the overseas versions (North America/Europe) will offer a toggle for these features, Japanese players will experience a significantly different game. Audio changes are also anticipated, though specifics remain undisclosed.
The CERO Z rating reflects Japan's stringent content guidelines, particularly concerning violence. This isn't unprecedented for the Assassin's Creed franchise; previous installments, including Valhalla and Origins, also received the same rating. The organization's strict stance on gore and dismemberment has led to previous cancellations of Japanese releases, notably The Callisto Protocol in 2022 and the Dead Space Remake in 2023, due to developers' unwillingness to compromise on their vision.
Further adjustments extend to the game's marketing materials. Descriptions of Yasuke, a key protagonist, have been altered on Steam and PlayStation Store pages. The term "samurai" (侍) has been replaced with "騎当千" (Ikki tousen), meaning "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies." This follows criticism in 2024 regarding the use of "black samurai" in promotional materials, a sensitive topic in Japanese history and culture. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, previously stated the company's focus on broad audience appeal, not specific agendas.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The differing content between regional releases highlights the ongoing challenges faced by developers navigating diverse cultural sensitivities and content rating systems.
