Ubisoft stunned fans and critics alike with its announcement for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Discussions about the samurai status and historical accuracy of the game’s protagonist, Yasuke, have caused a stir in the Assassin’s Creed community on Reddit. Notably, the moderators of r/assassinscreed took a strict stance to end these discussions and warned users to stay away from such discussions.
The debate over Assassin’s Creed Shadows protagonist Yasuke’s samurai status has been going on for a long time
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which Ubisoft announced at San Diego Comic-Con, features Yasuke as one of its main characters. However, the issue of whether Yasuke is a samurai in real life has become a big debate among fans of the game.
In response to the backlash from Japanese fans, Ubisoft released a statement acknowledging that Yasuke’s samurai status is a matter of historical debate. The statement notes that the game is not fully grounded in historical fact and presents more of a fictionalized story.
Ubisoft’s statement further fueled community outcry
In a four-page message, Ubisoft emphasized that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional story set in Feudal Japan and that the game is not intended to be completely faithful to historical fact. The company acknowledged that the portrayal of Yasuke as a samurai is a controversial topic and hopes to encourage players to research more about this period.
This statement was widely echoed in the r/assassinscreed community. The moderators took a clear stance to stop discussions on the topic, stating that such discussions are malicious. The moderators stated that the Assassin’s Creed series has always taken creative liberties, and this also applies to the character of Yasuke. They also reminded the community that the game should be seen as historical fiction, not as a historical source.
Japanese gamers have started a petition to cancel Assassin's Creed Shadows. Here's why!
The Assassin’s Creed series is known for its fictionalized take on historical events and figures. This approach aims to provide a more engaging gameplay experience by exaggerating real historical events and personalities. The portrayal of Yasuke as a samurai should be seen as part of this creative freedom. While Ubisoft acknowledges that Yasuke may not have played such a large role in real life, his unique and mysterious life makes him an ideal candidate for the story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
