Is Yasuke, one of the two central protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, facing removal from the game entirely? Here’s what we know so far.
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has built a reputation for delivering vast and immersive open-world experiences set across pivotal historical epochs.
From the grandeur of Ancient Egypt and Greece to the turbulence of the French Revolution and the Viking Age, the series has woven a rich historical context into every adventure.
After numerous leaks and hints, the series is finally heading to Feudal Japan with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Initially scheduled for a release on November 12, 2024, the game has now been postponed to February 14, 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will now release February 14, 2025. pic.twitter.com/J2ah7kkytW
— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) September 25, 2024
Ubisoft confirmed the delay, stating it was made to “provide additional polish”to the game ahead of its launch.
However, this delay sparked a wave of speculation online, with the most prominent rumor suggesting that Yasuke, one of the two main characters featured in Shadows, could be removed entirely.
To clear the air, we’ve gathered what information is available regarding this speculation and whether there is any truth to it or if it’s merely another unfounded gaming rumor.
Yasuke Controversy and Removal Rumors Explained
Yasuke’s inclusion in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has stirred considerable controversy.
To understand the basis of these rumors, it’s important to recognize how they originated. When it was revealed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows would feature two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, many gamers were drawn to Yasuke.
This interest arises largely because Yasuke is a historical figure; while the franchise often incorporates real individuals like Leonardo Da Vinci, they have yet to portray such a person as a playable character.
On July 23, 2024, Ubisoft addressed its “Japanese community”on X (formerly Twitter) regarding concerns about accurately depicting Japan and Yasuke’s role as a lead character, given the ongoing debate about his status as a Samurai.
The Assassin’s Creed Shadows team has a message for our Japanese community. pic.twitter.com/AIyWNU9YhG
— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) July 23, 2024
In their statement, Ubisoft acknowledged that while Yasuke’s status as a Samurai is “a matter of debate,”he was seen as an “ideal candidate”to engage with Assassin’s Creed‘s creative freedom in blending historical and fantasy elements.
Will Yasuke Be Axed from Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Yasuke is confirmed as one of the two playable characters in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and this detail remains unchanged.
On September 29, 2024, prominent gaming insider Tom Henderson, known for his reliable gaming news and founder of Insider Gaming, responded to an X thread claiming Yasuke was being removed from the game, asserting, “It’s not true.”
After promising to share “more context about the AC Shadows delay”in a follow-up post, Henderson wrote an article that directly refuted these claims.
In his article, Henderson emphasized that Yasuke is “not going to be removed,”although he noted that sources informed him that Ubisoft has been “actively addressing many of the historical and cultural concerns”that arose before the game’s official announcement.
“This involves altering aspects of Yasuke’s story and depiction within the game, refining architectural details, and ensuring that the narrative remains historically accurate while fitting seamlessly into the Assassin’s Creed universe,” Henderson elaborated.
He further stated that historical experts were integrated into the project later in the development phase than usual, and that “miscommunication between teams and rushed approvals of assets”contributed to the misalignment regarding Yasuke’s portrayal in Shadows.
In addition to concerns about the accuracy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the announcement that Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to the acclaimed 2020 game Ghost of Tsushima, is also set to launch in 2025 adds another layer to the challenge.
With both Shadows and Ghost of Yotei set in overlapping historical timelines, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will face significant competition.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on February 14, 2025, and will be available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles as well as PC.
Leave a Reply