After Assassin’s Creed Shadows was unveiled in May, the game’s inclusion of Yasuke, a black samurai and real historical figure, received backlash from some quarters. In an interview with Game File, Ubisoft producer Marc-Alexis Côté addressed this backlash and Yasuke’s place in the historical fiction of Assassin’s Creed.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Producer Responds to Yasuke Backlash: “They Feed the Hate”
Ubisoft’s new game Assassin’s Creed Shadows was heavily criticized for the presence of Yasuke. Some critics argued that Yasuke was not a real samurai and that historical accuracy had been compromised, while others simply objected to the inclusion of a black character in feudal Japan. Elon Musk’s tweet “DEI kills art” has fueled these debates. (DEI=Diversity, equality and inclusion / Woke culture)
Marc-Alexis Côté reacted strongly to Musk’s comments, saying that such statements fuel hatred. Côté said, “That tweet created an emotional reaction. At first I wanted to go back to platform X and respond. But I calmed myself down and analyzed the emotions that this tweet generated. What Elon said is sad, it only feeds hatred,” Côté said.
Côté said that the Ubisoft team felt it was useless to respond to Musk to explain his point of view. He emphasized that Yasuke’s presence in the game is very much tied to the historical setting of the series and how choices are made. The Assassin’s Creed series is known and loved for its use of historical figures in the fictional narrative of big moments. Yasuke’s mysterious past also provided space for Ubisoft to fill with its own interpretation.
Côté said that the first 12 minutes of the game were enough to explain Yasuke’s existence. “What Elon said is not relevant to the game we’re making. People should play the game themselves and if they don’t understand what we did in the first 11 minutes and 47 seconds, then we can discuss it. When I was reviewing the game, I was like, ‘The answer is here!’ I hope people will keep an open mind about it and see the game for what it is.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 15th. Ubisoft believes this is the best Assassin’s Creed game they’ve ever made. You’ll be able to form your own opinion on Ubisoft’s controversial decision as you explore the story of Yasuke, a black Samurai, and Naoe, a Shinobi Assassin.
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