Why is “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” a controversial game? What makes it so popular?
【この記事にはPRを含む場合があります】
The popular stealth action game series ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is set to release its latest installment on March 20, 2025.
Although the series has been beloved by fans since the release of its first game in 2007, the introduction trailer for the latest title ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ has sparked a controversy not only in Japan, which serves as the model for the game’s setting, but also worldwide.
In this article, we will talk about why the game is controversial, what it’s like, and why the series is so popular.
- What is Assassin's Creed?
- What makes the game Assassin's Creed so popular?
- 1. Stealth action like an assassin's
- 2. Parkour action allows for free movement in an open world
- 3. Historically accurate buildings and characters based on thorough research
- Why did Assassin's Creed Shadows cause a big argument?
- 1. Picking a Black main character in a game set in Japan
- 2. It doesn't have enough historical accuracy.
- 3. Controversial statements by developers
- We're not sure what will happen with "Assassin's Creed Shadows."
What is Assassin’s Creed?
(Source:Assassin’s Creed Official Website)
Assassin’s Creed is a series of stealth action games developed by the French company Ubisoft. Since the release of its first game in 2007, it has been a popular series loved by fans for a long time. The release date for the latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is November 12, 2024. It’s the first game in the series that takes place in Japan, and it’s getting a lot of attention from fans in Japan and around the world.
What makes the game Assassin’s Creed so popular?
(Source:Assassin’s Creed Official Website)
Assassin’s Creed has three main parts:
– You can move around in a way that is similar to how an assassin would move.
– You can move around in an open world in a way that is similar to how a parkour athlete moves.
– The buildings and characters are based on accurate historical information.
1. Stealth action like an assassin’s
The term “stealth action” is closely associated with the video game series Assassin’s Creed. The ability to move undetected by enemies and silently kill them one by one from behind captures the essence of being an assassin, enhancing the feeling of being fully immersed in the game. It’s worth noting that being spotted doesn’t immediately result in the game being over, which allows for regular combat if preferred. This feature appeals to those who enjoy more chaotic battles.
2. Parkour action allows for free movement in an open world
Assassin’s Creed features large maps that players can freely explore. The game offers exciting parkour action, allowing players to move around the map with ease and freedom. While the available actions may be different in each game in the series, the exciting parkour mechanics are consistent throughout, which is a big reason why so many people like the game.
3. Historically accurate buildings and characters based on thorough research
Assassin’s Creed is known for its detailed historical settings, with accurately recreated buildings and NPCs. Players can explore highly detailed, real-world architectural structures and interact with NPCs whose clothing and behavior reflect the historical period. This attention to detail allows players to experience a sense of “time travel,” with the game’s immersive qualities sometimes described as “the world’s cheapest time travel.”
Why did Assassin’s Creed Shadows cause a big argument?
The popular Assassin’s Creed series has generally been liked by most people for its previous games. However, the latest part, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, was strongly disliked by many people around the world right after its preview was shown. This strong disapproval has grown so much that some people are asking for the game to be canceled.
Petion on https://t.co/4745y2dx1i for stop releasing #AssassinsCreedShadows from Japanese.
「アサシンクリードシャドウズの発売中止を求めます」の署名サイト
現在3000人以上が署名されています。あ、書いていたら100人ほど増えました。#ポリコレ #アサクリ pic.twitter.com/4bNE99wWJl
— Naoki Hada 🇺🇸 羽田直樹 🍵 (@hada) June 30, 2024
The main reasons for the disagreement include:
1. Picking a Black main character in a game set in Japan
Most Assassin’s Creed games have featured fictional characters based on the culture of the game’s setting. But Assassin’s Creed Shadows is different. It features Yasuke, a real person who was a Black man who lived during Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama period. This made people debate about “political correctness” and cultural representation.
Additionally, Yasuke is portrayed as a samurai in the game, despite there being little historical evidence to support this. Ubisoft promoted the game as “historically accurate” in countries outside Japan, which further fueled criticism because Yasuke’s historical background is unclear.
2. It doesn’t have enough historical accuracy.
The game has been criticized for its lack of attention to historical details, which contrasts with the series’ reputation for meticulous research in previous installments.Examples of inaccuracies include:
-The cherry blossoms and persimmons appear at the wrong time of year.
-The tatami mats are square-shaped.
-All the characters sit in seiza (kneeling posture), but the servants should sit cross-legged.
-There is no one to sit in charge.
-Yasuke walks through town in full armor.
These mistakes have led to accusations of careless development and have made the public even angrier.
なんか見覚えあるなと思って画像検索したら、明治時代の三味線引きの写真じゃないの、これ？
アサクリシャドウズ、大丈夫？
明治と安土桃山はだいぶ時代違うよ？#アサシンクリードシャドウズ #AssassinscreedShadows pic.twitter.com/HjEii0AOnE— tk8d32（お仕事募集中） (@tk8d32) June 19, 2024
3. Controversial statements by developers
Developers’ remarks during interviews have made things worse. For example, they said they chose Yasuke as the main character because “Japanese characters are unfamiliar to us; we wanted someone familiar to our eyes.” Some people thought this was racially insensitive. They also made inaccurate claims about Japanese history, like saying “most people were cleanly decapitated,” which was criticized for being careless.
Media defending these choices also made inflammatory remarks, such as suggesting that “casting Asians for Asian roles is outdated.”This lack of respect toward Japanese culture and people has made the backlash worse.
Well-known people like Elon Musk have publicly criticized Ubisoft, showing how the controversy has led to people criticizing Ubisoft around the world.
色々と荒れているアサシンクリードシャドウズに対してイーロンマスクが批判して開発元のUBIが反論
イーロン「DEIはアートを殺す」
※DEI＝多様性・公平性
↓
UBI「私にとって、イーロン氏は悲しい存在です。彼はただ憎しみを助長しているだけです」
↓… https://t.co/1PpORv6TOo pic.twitter.com/opSbmNZtAW— キャベツの人【ゲーム紹介】 (@kyabetsuhuman) June 15, 2024
We’re not sure what will happen with “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.”
The Assassin’s Creed series is known for letting players pretend to be assassins in very realistic historical settings. But the game is having a lot of problems with its latest version, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.” Many people think these problems are so bad that they should cancel the game.
There is a petition that asks for the game to be canceled. It has already gotten over 100,000 signatures. The game was originally scheduled to be released on November 15, 2024, but it has since been delayed twice. The new release date is set for March 20, 2025, but it’s not clear if that will be kept.Fans and critics are watching to see what Ubisoft will do in the coming weeks.
Even though there is a lot of controversy around “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” earlier games in the series were very popular. These games are fun even if you’re not good at action games. They let you explore historical places that look just like they did in the past.
If you want to try out the series, you can buy older Assassin’s Creed games on Steam.
We hope that the issues with “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” will be addressed before its release, allowing it to be enjoyed as a game in its own right, much like its predecessors in the series.
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