Since its announcement, Assassin's Creed Shadows has faced controversy involving Yasuke, a protagonist inspired by a historical character. Recently, Ubisoft changed Yasuke's description on the Japanese Steam page, removing the term “samurai” (侍) and replacing it with Ikki tousen , an expression that means “a warrior capable of facing a thousand enemies”. The change comes after criticism from the Japanese public, who question the association of the historical character with the title of samurai.
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Ubisoft's decision was noticed shortly after the second postponement of the game, now scheduled for release on March 20, 2025. The Brazilian Steam page, however, still maintains the use of the term samurai, which generated more speculation in the global community on the consistency of regional descriptions.
Controversy surrounding Yasuke and reception in Japan
Yasuke, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed Shadows , is inspired by an African who lived in feudal Japan. The lack of definitive evidence regarding his official recognition as a samurai generated criticism among the Japanese public. Thus, under pressure, Ubisoft publicly apologized, showing attention to the country's cultural sensitivities.
Ubisoft limited the update to the Japanese Steam page. The term samurai still appears on Japan's PlayStation Store, which suggests platform exclusivity or delays in new updates.
Regional strategy or global inconsistency?
However, there is no information whether the change will be adopted in other regions. Meanwhile, players analyze how the game's narrative can approach Yasuke in light of these changes. The choice of Ikki tousen could be a way to avoid friction, without delegitimizing the character's importance.
The postponement to March brought additional time for technical and content adjustments, but also keeps attention on the company's narrative and cultural choices. Ubisoft remains under the watchful eye of fans and critics. After the delays, Assassin's Creed Shadows will hit the market on March 20, 2025, available for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X. It remains to be seen how the changes to Yasuke's narrative and presentation will affect the game's reception upon release.
