Navigating Controversy: An Inside Look at Assassin's Creed Shadows and Yasuke's Cultural Impact

Ubisoft has been under considerable scrutiny regarding Assassin's Creed Shadows over the last year. Fans have expressed their concerns about the portrayal of Japan and its culture in the game, as well as reacting to an insensitive collectible figure and the portrayal of Yasuke. The developer has been navigating through ongoing controversy for quite some time.

Despite the challenges faced, Ubisoft is set to release Assassin's Creed Shadows on March 20, following a delay. As the launch date approaches, we were fortunate enough to have a conversation with the creative director Jonathan Dumont, with the full conversation set to be featured on Gamereactor soon.

In advance of the upcoming interview, we inquired about the expectations surrounding Yasuke's reception and whether the backlash was anticipated. Dumont shared insights on the matter:

While some reaction caught us off guard, we always felt Yasuke would be a valuable addition to the Assassin's Creed franchise. Beyond the gameplay differences between him and Naoe, Yasuke emerges as a compelling historical figure that allowed us to weave a rich story despite the scant historical records available. Without revealing too much about his narrative ties to our lore, his distinct viewpoint as a man straddling two cultures, given a fresh opportunity in Japan, enhances Naoe's character beautifully.

Look forward to the complete interview with Dumont next week, along with our review of Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will be published on March 18 at 17:00 GMT/18:00 CET.