Assassin's Creed Shadows sparks controversy in Japan and Ubisoft is accused of disrespecting local culture

What should have been another big release from Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is turning into a minefield of criticism and controversy, especially in Japan, the very country that serves as the setting for the highly anticipated game. After the gameplay video was revealed, Ubisoft faces serious accusations of ignorance and disrespect towards Japanese culture, due to the way certain sacred locations were portrayed in the game.

The epicenter of this controversy revolves around a scene in which the character Yasuke, the famous real African samurai who inspired one of the game's protagonists, invades and destroys parts of a sacred shrine — an action that, according to critics, would never be performed by a legitimate samurai.

Among the strongest voices against Ubisoft is the Itate Hyozu Shrine itself, located in Hyogo prefecture, which decided to file a formal complaint against the company, alleging that the shrine was digitally recreated without any kind of authorization or prior consultation.

"We were not even contacted by Ubisoft about the recreation of the location, something we would have refused if they had approached us," said the shrine's authorities.

More than a legal issue, the cultural impact is what is most concerning. Kazutoshi Nishimoto, the chief priest of the shrine, was clear in stating that "these spaces are a deep representation of Japanese culture and should not, under any circumstances, be disrespected, even within a video game."

"Even though it's a game, the act of destroying or profaning a shrine is a serious offense to our tradition," Nishimoto added.

The controversy gained even more weight when Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Hyogo prefectural assembly, appealed to the Japanese Congress for a formal reaction against Ubisoft, stating that “the history and importance of this shrine demand respect.” Nagase also criticized the game for depicting samurais attacking defenseless people and destroying sacred places, which he believes is "completely contrary to the code of conduct of a true samurai."

In addition to cultural offenses, there is also a fear that the behavior shown in the game could encourage real-life acts of vandalism against sacred places. "We are concerned that this kind of representation could influence people to imitate these behaviors," stated the shrine's leaders.

It's worth noting that Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set to release on November 20, 2024, will be the first title in the series to explore feudal Japan, featuring two playable protagonists: Yasuke and Naoe, a kunoichi (ninja). Expectations were high for a game that promised to respect Japanese history and culture, but the first gameplay video has already raised serious questions about the care taken in this representation.

So far, Ubisoft has not officially responded to the case. The controversy comes at a delicate time for the company, which is already facing criticism for previous decisions in other franchises, and now sees its highly anticipated foray into Japan threatened by a possible local boycott.

If Ubisoft does not act quickly to correct the negative perception — or even adjust the game's content —, the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows may end up tarnished by accusations that go beyond mere creative freedom. After all, in times where cultural respect weighs increasingly in the gaming world, historical accuracy and sensitivity to the portrayed peoples are non-negotiable factors.