Assassin’s Creed Shadows Statue Controversy: Design Considered “Insensitive”

An Assassin’s Creed Shadows collectible figure has been withdrawn from the market in response to widespread criticism regarding its “insensitive” design.

On October 15, 2024, Purearts, the manufacturer of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke & Naoe figure, publicly addressed the issue in a statement shared on X. The company expressed remorse over the feedback regarding its design choices.

“We have recently released a design that was deemed inappropriate. We deeply value the feedback that has been shared with us and apologize for any distress this may have caused. After thoroughly evaluating the comments, we have decided to revisit our design for the Qlectors Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke & Naoe. Please stay tuned for updates!”

While the characters themselves did not face backlash, much of the outcry centered on the depiction of the damaged torii gate. Numerous users on Japanese social media swiftly pointed out the uncommon nature of a one-legged torii, citing that the only known example is located at Nagasaki’s Sanno Shrine.

This particular one-legged torii gained international recognition after it was destroyed during the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Consequently, this has led to the decision to remove the current Qlectors Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke & Naoe figure from sale.

Qlectors Assassin's Creed Shadows Yasuke & Naoe figure — Image credit: Purearts / Ubisoft

The Qlectors Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke & Naoe is undergoing redesign following the backlash.

It’s worth mentioning that pre-orders will continue, and Purearts plans to notify customers via email with further announcements soon. However, this isn’t the first occasion Assassin’s Creed Shadows has faced criticism from the gaming community.

On July 23, 2024, Ubisoft notably responded to the Japanese audience after fans voiced concerns about historical inaccuracies in the game. Players pointed out issues such as architectural discrepancies, incorrect clan symbols, and seasonal inconsistencies.

Additionally, some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with Yasuke as a leading character, arguing that Ubisoft has exaggerated his significance during the Sengoku period and his connection with Oda Nobunaga.

As a result, Ubisoft has decided to postpone the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows until February 14, 2025, to allow for “additional polish” of this anticipated title.

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