Ubisoft has apologised to the Japanese community for the historical accuracy of its upcoming video game Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Since the release of its trailer two months ago, the game has come under fire for the inclusion of Yasuke, a Black samurai. The controversy centres around the inclusion of Yasuke, a real-life historical figure believed to be Japan’s first black samurai, as one of the game’s lead characters.
Set in feudal Japan, the game features two protagonists: Yasuke and a fictional female character named Naoe. While Naoe is an original creation, her father is based on the historical shinobi Fujibayashi Nagato. Yasuke, on the other hand, is a well-documented figure who served as a samurai under Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century.
Read more: ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Sparks Controversy Over Yasuke, Japan’s First Black Samurai
“Many are angry because Ubisoft decided to make the single black person who was around in Japan at the time a playable character instead of using one the millions of Japanese they could have chosen instead. There are allegations of “wokism” and “black-washing”,” explained on Redditor.
Ubisoft has now responded to the backlash with a four-page apology on X. The developers acknowledged the criticism, stating, “Since the announcement of Assassin’s Creed 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.”
Ubisoft went on to explain that their portrayal of Japan was fictional, rather than factual. “We have put significant effort into ensuring an immersive and respectful representation of Feudal Japan,” Ubisoft said. “However, our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, 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 settings we get inspired by. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is first and foremost, designed to be an entertaining video game that tells a compelling, historical fiction set in Feudal Japan.”
Nonetheless, Ubisoft apologized for upsetting the Japanese community, stating, “We acknowledge that some elements in our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community. For this, we sincerely apologize.”
With regard to the controversial character, Ubisoft stated, “From its inception, the series has taken creative license and incorporated fantasy elements to craft engaging and immersive experiences. The representation of Yasuke in our game is an illustration of this. His unique and mysterious life made him an ideal candidate to tell an Assassin’s Creed story with the setting of Feudal Japan as a backdrop.”
“While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we acknowledge that this is a matter of debate and discussion. We have woven this carefully into our narrative and with our other lead character, the Japanese shinobi Naoe, who is equally important in the game, our dual protagonists provide players with different gameplay styles.”
Responses to Ubisoft’s apology were mixed. “Change the characters name. Easy fix. By the way, why did you consult (potentially biased) historians to invent a fictional character?” Suggested one X user.
“Of course the Japanese are pissed. A black man in feudal japan seems weird, even tho yasuke was a real person (a weapon carrier for a samurai). I think you should’ve stuck to regular japanese characters instead of trying to be diverse. I doubt japanese players will like this,” said another.
Other more sceptical responses include, “People really mad over everything these days, it’s just a game at the end of the day. It’s not that serious,” and “Get Woke Go Broke.”
The entire controversy highlights the delicate balance between creating fiction and paying homage to cultures. It’s an issue that stems beyond video games and one that the film industry faces on the daily. Asian communities want their stories to be told, and whilst the subject matter can be malleable, cultural pillars must be established to do this justice.
Whilst Ubisoft’s intentions are debatable, their efforts in injecting their own fiction in a Japanese historical setting demonstrate this challenge.
Most recently, FX’s lavish Japanese period drama, Shogun, was shrouded in Emmy nominations. The sweeping epic, centred on the intricate power struggles of feudal Japan, has amassed an impressive 25 nominations, making it the leading contender in this year’s Emmy race.
Read more: ‘Shōgun’ Dominates the Emmys With 25 Nominations: A New Era for Drama
Based on real historical figures, the show follows the story of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an Englishman who washes up on Japanese shores in 1600. Amidst civil unrest and European religious interference, he finds himself enmeshed with samurai, courtiers, and a formidable daimyo named Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada).
Where Shogun succeeded and Assassin’s Creed failed was creating engaging storylines within the strict framework of Japanese history. In any case, Ubisoft’s apology demonstrates what can happen when this fine line is not met.
