Ubisoft Is Chasing After Crowd Satisfaction Instead Of Historical Accuracy

Ubisoft has been making video games set in the past for over a decade. This might lead you to believe that they have perfected the formula. However, the recent Assassin’s Creed games were not well acclaimed. With the studio going downhill, the best solution for Ubisoft was to provide the fans with what they have been wanting forever: an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan.

Fans were highly hopeful for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, such as doing parkour over the kirizuma and yosemune, the roofs for Japanese architecture. Needless to say, when the game was revealed, it looked optimistic for the fans as the title comprised good graphics and high fidelity.

The problem arose when players saw that the culture of Japan had been totally fabricated and not imitated. This applies not only to the overworld but also to the main character of the game. Let us dive deep into Ubisoft’s spiraling controversy.

Inaccuracies In Yasuke’s Samurai Portrayal

Yasuke was an actual figure of African origin in the history of feudal Japan. He did exist, and there are sources to back this up. Yasuke was a retainer to Oda Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo of the Sengoku era. However, it has never been stated that Yasuke was rewarded with samurai status. There is no historical record of him being officially granted the samurai status.

In contrast, Assassin’s Creeds’ Yasuke seems to be a full-fledged samurai who commanded power and reigned over the wars that were waged at the time. Also, to make matters worse, Ubisoft has made the character an integral LGBTQ+ figure, which has enraged fans and critics alike. This falsification has put my and many other fans’ hopes very low.

The Geographical Inconsistencies Of Japan

Ubisoft has tried to capture the essence of Japan in the game. Some may even say that they did so to some extent. When you look at it in hindsight and reflect upon it, you can see the problems they have created. To please the Western audience, they disregarded the period and amalgamated eras.

For example, some of the temples shown in the game are from the Edo period. The Edo period came way after Yasuke’s time, and he is from the Sengoku era.

Another thing to look at is the torii gates. Torii gates are of great value and importance to the Japanese culture as they symbolize sacredness and divinity. They are placed outside shrines and temples to mark a transition from the norm to holiness. The developers have placed torii gates outside villages, which has made me face-palm the whole situation. This level of disregard for detail by Ubisoft did not go unnoticed, and complaints were made.

Ubisoft’s Response To The Controversy

The developers have come forward and acknowledged the whole situation. First and foremost, they have apologized to the entire Japanese community, as they should. Next, they talked about how their games are not always accurate to history but rather give players an experience that sparks curiosity and encourages players to explore and learn more about historical settings.

They have also said that while they strive for authenticity in everything they do, in the end, it is just a piece of fiction for us to enjoy.

My Thoughts On The Scenario

I believe that if Ubisoft intends to provide us with immersive and engaging gameplay, they should also respect the cultures simultaneously. If one fails to please the audience the game is meant for, why even try to make it in the first place? I really hope they fix these issues before the release of the game. May we all have a great game to play.