Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed Shadows," released on March 20, 2025, has garnered over 2 million players and received favorable reviews on Metacritic. However, the game continues to face controversy, sparking intense debate among global players and even prompting a rare public statement from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Set in Japan's Sengoku period, the open-world title allows players to explore freely. Yet, two specific elements have drawn criticism from some players: the inclusion of Yasuke, an African samurai, as one of the dual protagonists, and the ability for players to destroy shrine buildings within the game.
Addressing the issue, Japanese Senator Hiroyuki Kada expressed concern, stating that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world shrines could lead to misunderstandings or even encourage copycat behavior. He noted that shrine administrators and local residents were worried, emphasizing that while freedom of expression is respected, actions that denigrate culture should be avoided.
In response, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba indicated that the government would discuss how to address the issue legally with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). He recalled that when the Self-Defense Forces were deployed to Samawah, Iraq, they were required to study Islamic culture in advance and respect local beliefs and customs as a fundamental principle. The Prime Minister firmly stated that the destruction of shrines is absolutely unacceptable in reality and constitutes an insult to the nation.
Ubisoft has swiftly responded to the controversy, rolling out a corrective update on the game's launch day. According to Automaton, this update makes some objects within shrines indestructible and reduces the visibility of blood effects in shrine areas.
Additionally, the update ensures that attacking unarmed civilian NPCs will no longer generate blood effects. It remains unclear, however, whether these specific updates apply to the global version of the game or are exclusive to the Japanese market.
via： IGN