Japanese gamers are calling for the cancellation of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows due to perceived historical inaccuracies. More than 25,000 people have already signed a petition reported by the iXBT.games portal.
The petition authors argue that the game’s narrative overlooks critical facts about the samurai, the highest tier of the warrior class who served as vassals to the nobility. The document also mentions William Adams, known as Miura Anjin, who was the first European to receive the title of samurai and who served under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ubisoft’s portrayal of the samurai is seen as a misrepresentation of a cornerstone of Japanese culture and history.
The events in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows unfold in the late sixteenth century. One of the central characters is the black samurai Yasuke, a historical figure who also existed in real life.
One critic argues that Ubisoft still does not grasp the core role and meaning of the samurai across history. This view links the game to potential anti Asian racism and condemns the creative approach taken by the studio.
The petition follows criticism from Japanese players directed at Ubisoft and the game, particularly after a video clip in which an assistant narrative director described the project as fiction. It is noted that the game’s plot draws on real events and figures but remains a product of Ubisoft’s writing team in collaboration with historians and consultants who provided context and guidance.
Earlier reports indicated that Ubisoft plans remakes of older Assassin’s Creed titles, signaling a broader strategy for revisiting established stories and beloved eras while exploring new narrative possibilities.