Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, recently addressed concerns about Ubisoft's game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, during an official government conference. Contrary to some reports suggesting a strong rebuke, the Prime Minister's comments were more nuanced and focused on broader implications rather than the game itself.
IGN, in collaboration with IGN Japan, provided an accurate translation and context to clarify the situation. Ubisoft has been proactive in addressing criticisms surrounding the game's depiction of Feudal Japan and its marketing strategies, issuing multiple apologies for any unintended offense caused to the Japanese community. The company emphasized its collaboration with historians and consultants, yet acknowledged that some promotional materials had sparked concerns.
The controversy intensified when Ubisoft used a flag from a Japanese historical re-enactment group without permission in the game's artwork, leading to another apology. Additionally, a collectible figure maker, PureArts, withdrew an Assassin’s Creed Shadows statue from sale due to its use of a one-legged Torii gate, which some found offensive given its significant historical and cultural connotations.
During the conference, Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada raised concerns about the game's potential to inspire real-world vandalism, particularly at shrines, linking it to broader issues of "over tourism" and increased vandalism in Japan. Kada, representing the area where Itatehyozu Shrine is located—a shrine depicted in the game without permission—expressed fears that the game could encourage disrespectful behavior towards cultural landmarks.
Prime Minister Ishiba responded by emphasizing the importance of respecting cultural and religious sites, stating that defacing a shrine would be an insult to the nation. He suggested that any legal considerations would need to involve multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His comments were directed at potential real-world actions rather than the game itself.
In response to these concerns, Ubisoft has announced a day-one patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set to release on March 20. This patch will make in-game shrine objects indestructible, reduce non-essential depictions of violence in sacred spaces, and remove blood effects when attacking unarmed NPCs. While this patch has been confirmed in Japan, Ubisoft's western operations have yet to officially comment.
Despite the controversies, Assassin’s Creed Shadows faces significant pressure to succeed globally after Ubisoft's recent challenges, including delays, the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. IGN's review of the game scored it an 8/10, praising it for refining the series' open-world gameplay.
Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, responded to a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline
25 Images
