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Assassin’s Creed Shadows publisher Ubisoft has issued a statement of apology to the “Japanese community” regarding various concerns regarding elements of the upcoming stealth-action site, which is set in feudal Japan and features its own take on the African samurai, Yasuke.
Speaking in a lengthy statement posted on social media, Ubisoft was quick to note that the Assassin’s Creed franchise as a whole is never designed to represent an accurate depiction of its historical settings, but rather takes inspiration from real-life events — this is true of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, too.
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Since the announcement of Assassin’s Creecd Shadows, we have received many positive reactions, but also some criticism, including from you, our Japanese players. We share your passion for history and deeply respect your care for the historical and cultural integrity of your rich heritage.
Our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadowws, as factual representations of history, or historical characters. Instead, we aim to spark curiosity and encourage players to explore and learn more about the historical setting we get inspired by.
We acknowledge that some elements in 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 that are taken by the creative teams in the interest of gameplay and entertainment.
The statement goes on to address the character of Yasuke directly, where Ubisoft said the team “acknowledge that his is a matter of debate and discussion.”
On the subject of Yasuke, Elon Musk didn’t help matters for Ubisoft by posting on X that “DEI kills art,” referring to diversity, equity and inclusion. Marc-Alexis Cote, the Vice President and Executive Producer of Assassin’s Creed, admitted he had planned to respond to Musk’s comments, but ultimately decided against it.
You can read the full statement here.
