Assassin’s Creed Shadows has sparked significant controversy since its initial reveal, largely surrounding the character of Yasuke. This black samurai is the first real-life historical figure to take center stage in Ubisoft’s renowned open-world series, which is heavily inspired by history. Consequently, Yasuke has been the subject of unfounded accusations, including allegations that he was forced into the narrative at the expense of a traditional Japanese male hero.
Are these claims credible, or are they merely unfounded speculations? Let’s delve into the origins of these assertions and evaluate insights from industry insiders regarding this topic.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Was Always Intended to Feature Yasuke as the Protagonist
This speculation has circulated since the game’s announcement, with numerous online users claiming that Ubisoft replaced a “planned”Japanese male protagonist with Yasuke. A prominent theory suggests that this alteration arose from the societal shifts following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. However, industry insider Tom Henderson swiftly refuted this notion.
On the contrary, everything Ubisoft has disclosed thus far about Assassin’s Creed Shadows indicates that featuring Yasuke was part of the original vision.
The development team explicitly targeted their Japanese fanbase with this installment.
Here are crucial excerpts from a detailed response worth noting:
“While we strive for authenticity in everything that we do, Assassin’s Creed games are works of fiction inspired by real historical events and figures. 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.”
The developers also acknowledged the sensitive nature of this narrative choice:
“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.”
With Ubisoft’s confirmation that Yasuke was an integral part of the game’s vision from the beginning, the assertion that the team replaced a previous Japanese male hero with Yasuke can be definitively dismissed as false.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on February 14, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms.
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